1 Corinthians 2:5

that your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.

'that' -the purpose of God.

'stand' -'rest' (NASV), should not be based upon.

'And he tells us he didn't try to make the Message appear especially "wise". It wasn't clothed in complex argument...The Corinthians hadn't been drawn to Christ by. smart-talking debater. They had heard. very ordinary man proclaim an extraordinary Message and confirm it with acts which were self-evidently beyond human ability. AND WHY WAS ALL THIS SO? So they wouldn't glorify men and break up into church parties over them. So they would give God the glory..Stupid men get the impression that God couldn't do it without them.' [Note:. McGuiggan pp. 42-43]

Points to Note:

1. The danger of placing your faith in the wisdom of men, is that another philosophy can always come along. In fact, another philosophy will always come along, and show the first to be erroneous on some points. (Ephesians 4:14)

2. 'the polished oratory sometimes heard in American pulpits, where the sermon itself seems to be the goal of what is said, makes one wonder whether the text has been heard at all. Paul's own point needs. fresh hearing. What he is rejecting is not preaching, not even persuasive preaching; rather, it is the real danger in all preaching--self reliance. The danger always lies in letting the form... get in the way of what should be the single concern: the gospel proclaimed through human weakness..' (Fee pp. 96-97)

3. 'A word needs to be said about the absolute certainty which Paul displayed concerning the gospel; the gospel was the only way of truth. Paul did not leave any room for the possibility of being in error. He would not, therefore, have much appreciation for the modern relativity theories concerning truth. The gospel was proven too certainly for him to leave any room for error.' (Willis pp. 63-64) The same is true for all generations since. (John 20:30)

THE GOSPEL IS GOD'S WISDOM (1 Corinthians 2:6-9):

'To this point Paul has been rather hard on "wisdom"--because he is arguing against. Corinthian attitude toward it that has placed him and his gospel in. less than favorable light.' (Fee p. 98)

Paul has been arguing against 'mere human wisdom', the type of wisdom that thinks the gospel is foolishness. (1 Corinthians 1:23) The type of wisdom that is demonstrated in human religions and human philosophical systems. And yet, the so-called "foolishness" of Paul's message, actually does save! (1 Corinthians 1:21) And the gospel message does contain wisdom, real, genuine wisdom, the wisdom of God.

'Now Paul develops the thought that the gospel is in reality the only genuine wisdom. Do the Corinthians want wisdom? Well, here it is, the one supreme wisdom in the whole universe!' (Lenski p. 94)