June 13, 2010

A portion of a letter from Paul to the church in Corinth [1 Corinthians 2]

Synopsis:

Schisms were forming in the church in Corinth, due to a lack of focus in its mission. The cultural diversity of Corinth was being echoed within the church body, robbing it of its unique identity. Paul’s letter addresses many of the issues dividing the church and asks for unity in spirit, despite individuality. This portion of the letter attempts to clarify the identity of the church, while describing the common bond of wisdom in the spirit. Regardless of the theological divisions inside the church, Paul illustrates this shared quality, in contrast to the many opposing influences.

#1 (2:6-7) Yet among the mature we do impart wisdom, although it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to pass away. But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glory.

Here, among other things, Paul is creating a distinction between traditional wisdom and infinite wisdom. This proposes that, just as traditional wisdom reflects a higher order of understanding than simple knowledge, infinite wisdom transcends the traditional, by eliminating all traces of subjective influence caused by a finite perspective. While wisdom attempts to respect the impact of knowledge, as it relates to perceived life, our perception is always subject to the finite quality of our being.

#2 (2:11-12) For who knows a person’s thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God.

Here, Paul is using a common truth that no one knows anyone else's thoughts, except that person, to explain the same truth about knowing God’s thoughts. Even if two people, identical in quality or any other manner, exists, their thoughts would be colored differently by unique experiences, regardless of the subtlety. This depiction of spirit, as it relates to God, enables a better articulation of the difference between an ability to know God’s thoughts and the gift of a spirit that knows God’s thoughts. As we strive for wisdom, no one has foreknowledge of which will be enduring wisdom, only the understanding that by seeking enduring wisdom, enduring wisdom will, in fact, be achieved during the course of human events.

#3 (2:14) The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.

Here, Paul is pointing out the predicament of belief, by a person that does not believe. Someone that does not believe in things of the spirit will not accept things of the spirit to prove things of the spirit.