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1 Corinthians 1:18-31
With thanks to page sponsor:
First
Congregational Church UCC, Craig, CO
 | Reading the Text:
|
| Historical References, Commentary and
Comparative Texts:
 | "Poverty
of Conceptual Learning," Comparative World Scriptures from
United Communities of Spirit. |
|
Chapter XIII
of
The First Epistle to the Corinthians,
Clement of Rome (ca.
96). |
|
Chapter XVIII,
The Epistle of Ignatius to the Ephesians,
Ignatius of Antioch (c. 110). |
|
Chapter IV, The
Epistle of Ignatius to the Trallians,
Ignatius of Antioch (c. 110).
(Longer Version - 4th cent interpolation) |
|
I.III.5,
II.XIX.7,
III.XVIII.2,
III.XX.1,
Adversus Haereses,
Irenaeus
of Lyons. (c. 180) |
|
Chapter X, Adversus
Judaeos,
Tertullian
(c. 198) |
|
Chapter
II, On Baptism,
Tertullian
(c. 198) |
|
I.6, Paedagogus,
Clement of Alexandria (c 200) |
|
I.2,
I.3,
I.18,
I.20,
I.26,
V.1,
VI.6, Stromata,
Clement of Alexandria (c 200) |
|
II.8,
To His Wife, Tertullian (c. 206) |
|
II.2, Against
Marcion,
Tertullian
(c. 208) |
|
Chapter IX, On
Idolatry,
Tertullian
(c. 211) |
|
Chapter IV, On
the Flesh of Christ,
Tertullian (c.
211) |
|
Chapter III,
Chapter
LVII, On the Resurrection of the Flesh,
Tertullian
(c. 211) |
|
V.5,
V.19, Against
Marcion,
Tertullian
(c. 212) |
|
Concerning
Flight in Persecution
(paragraph 2)
Tertullian (c.
212) |
|
Chapter
X,
Chapter
XIX, Against Praxeas,
Tertullian
(c. 213) |
|
Chapter IX, On
Modesty,
Tertullian
(c. 217) |
|
I.II.1, 9,
III.I.12,
III.IV.2, First
Principles (De Principiis),
Origen.
(c.225) |
|
I.XIII,
III.XLVII,
III.XLVIII,
III.LXXIII,
V.XVI,
V.XXXIX,
VI.IV,
VI.XIV,
VI.XLIV,
VII.XLIV, Against
Celsus,
Origen (c. 246) |
|
Part 15,
On the Incarnation of the Word,
Athanasius of Alexandria, c. 318. |
| From the Geneva Notes.
 | "You that spend all your time
in seeking out the secret things of this world, and in expounding
all hard questions: and thus he triumphs against all the men of this
world, for there was not one of them that could so much as dream of
this secret and hidden mystery." |
|
| From
Matthew Henry's
Commentary.
| "Not that there is foolishness
or weakness in God, but what men consider as such, overcomes all
their admired wisdom and strength." |
|
| Christ, the
Believer's Wisdom, Righteousness, Sanctification, and Redemption (1 Cor
1:30): sermon by George Whitefield.
| "Of all the verses in the book
of God, this which I have now read to you, is, I believe, one of the
most comprehensive: what glad tidings does it bring to
believers!" |
|
| God Glorified in Man's
Dependence (1 Cor 1:29-31). Sermon by Jonathan Edwards.
| "God hath made man's emptiness
and misery, his low, lost, and ruined state, into which he sunk by
the fall, an occasion of the greater advancement of his own glory,
as in other ways, so particularly in this, that there is now much
more universal and apparent dependence of man on God." |
|
| From
Wesley's
Notes.
| "The gospel scheme, which the
world judge to be mere foolishness, is wiser than the wisdom of men;
and, weak as they account it, stronger than all the strength of
men." |
|
| From the
Commentary on the Whole Bible
(Jamieson, Fausset and Brown, 1871).
| "of this world--rather,
"dispensation (or age) . . . world"; the Greek
words are distinct. The former is here this age or worldly order of
things in a moral point of view, as opposed to the Christian
dispensation or order of things. The latter is the world viewed
externally and cosmically." |
|
| From The
People's New Testament, B.W. Johnson, 1891.
| "Worldly wisdom did not search
out the true God. Intellectual speculation had done its utmost, and
failed." |
|
| "Christ the
Wisdom of God," Henry Barclay Swete, The Expository Times 15
(1903) 58-62.
| "I plead, then, for an attitude on
the part of the clergy towards the culture and knowledge of our time which shall be
neither indifferent or hostile on the one hand, nor weakly concessive on the other. We are
bound to resist all demands for the practical abandonment of any article of the
faith...But we are also bound, as disciples of the Word, as ministers of the Light of men,
to welcome all fresh truth, physical, historical, or of whatever kind, not only as truth,
but as making in the end for the victory of the Truth itself." |
|
|
| Contemporary Commentary, Studies and Exegesis:
|
1 Corinthians 1:18-25, Lent 3B:
Comments
(commentary) and
Clippings
(technical notes for in-depth study), Chris Haslam, Anglican
Diocese of Montreal. |
|
"First
Thoughts on Passages on Year B Epistle Passages in the Lectionary: Lent
3," William
Loader, Murdoch University, Uniting Church in Australia.
| "Our structures and stances are usually
not cruciform but elevations of the high and mighty, partly because we are
bent on giving and receiving honours and rewards according to a value
system which ultimately crucified Jesus. Lent is a long road!" |
|
| "1
Corinthians 1:18-25," David Schnasa Jacobsen, Waterloo
Theological Seminary, Preaching Apocalyptic Texts: Year A, Resources
for Pastors Who Want to 'Preach in the New Creation'.
| "How is the message of
Christ crucified apocalyptic? To the perishing (reading Paul
apocalyptically, one might say those of "this present age")
Christ crucified talk is foolishness and weakness. Yet to us who are
"being saved" (again, apocalyptically, those of "the age
to come"), it's the power and wisdom of God." |
|
|
"We Preach
Christ Crucified,"
"God
Chooses the Weak,"
Rev. Bryan Findlayson, Lectionary Bible
Studies and Sermons, Pumpkin Cottage Ministry Resources. Includes detailed
textual notes. |
|
"Prophetic Mysticism," study guide, Robert B. Kruschwitz, (other resources at)
"Mysticism," Christian Reflection, The Center for Christian
Ethics at Baylor University, 2005. |
|
"God the Other Who Acts Otherwise: An Exegetical Essay on 1 Cor 1:26-31,"
Leander E. Keck, Volume XVI, Number 4, Word & World,
Luther Northwestern Theological Seminary, 1996.
| "Paul challenges the Corinthians' reliance on
prevailing human wisdom by showing that what happened in the case of
Jesus, what happens when the gospel is believed, what has happened in
Paul's own apostleship are all of a piece because God who is Other
consistently acted otherwise in each case." |
|
|
"Looking Like Fools," William Willimon, The
Christian Century, 1982. At Religion Online.
| "One of the dangers of being in church
as often as I am is that it all starts to make sense. I speak of the
Christian faith so casually and effortlessly that I begin to think, 'Fine
thing, this Christianity. Makes good sense.' And then I find myself
believing all sorts of things in church that I wouldn’t let anyone put
over on me in the real world." |
|
|
"Proud to be Humble," Ronald Goetz, The
Christian Century, 1979. At Religion Online.
| "A prideful Christian is perhaps the
world’s most dangerous citizen. We are God’s people. Without
humility, this statement- which ought to fill us with awe before the
wonder of God becomes the basis for the most unspeakable arrogance before
God and ultimately before our neighbor." |
|
|
"Journey
to the Cross," Stanley S. Harakas, The Christian Century,
1997. At Religion Online.
| "Lent is a journey. It leads
from recognition of the weakness and powerlessness before the forces
of evil and sin to victory over those forces through the cross and
empty tomb." |
|
| 1
Corinthians 1:18-25, in Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary's An
Exegetical Study of the Common Lectionary, coordinated by Prof.
John E. Alsup, features rough translation, disposition, immediate
context, broader context, hermeneutical bridge, and contemporary
address.
| "In Greek culture
"moros" is the one who is dull-witted, though the term is used
in a variety of contexts from animal husbandry to the preparation of
food. As regards the human condition the closest parallels concern the
deficiency of intellect or spiritual capacity or the impossibility for
some to follow another in reasoning and understanding. The intersection
of primitive Christianity, Old Testament theology, and Hellenistic
anthropology in the reflections of Paul over sophia/word of the cross
christology provides a fertile area for further discussion in light of
this pericope." |
|
|
"First
Thoughts on Year A Epistle Passages in the Lectionary:
Epiphany 4," William Loader, Murdoch University, Uniting Church in
Australia.
| "If there is anything to get excited
about and to be engaged in, let it be in God's life and the success of
God's life reaching into us and passing through us (1:31)." |
|
|
1 Corinthians 1:26-31, "Jesus Christ and Him Crucified": Epiphany Texts
from First Corinthians, Terrance L. Dinovo, Word & World Texts in
Context,
Luther Northwestern Theological Seminary, 1995. |
| 1 Corinthians 1:18-24, Holy Cross:
Comments
(commentary) and
Clippings
(technical notes for in-depth study), Chris Haslam, Anglican
Diocese of Montreal. |
|
1 Corinthians 1:18-31, Proper 4A:
Comments
(commentary) and
Clippings
(technical notes for in-depth study), Chris Haslam, Anglican
Diocese of Montreal. |
|
| Articles & Background:
|
"Aging from the Perspective of the Cross," Stephen Sapp, The Center
for Christian Ethics at Baylor University, 2003.
| "The discipleship of the cross
recognizes that the cross Jesus Christ bids his followers to take up
includes the ordinary, everyday sufferings of human life—including
those associated with aging—that are borne as Jesus bore his
sufferings." |
|
|
"1
Corinthians 1:10 - 4:21: Ideology of Power," Dr. Vernon Robbins. From
The
Tapestry of Early Christian Discourse: Rhetoric, Society and Ideology, London:
Routledge, 1996.
| "In [Castelli's] view, Paul's
discourse in 1 Corinthians 1-4 constructs a 'special position', 'a privileged position
from which to speak' (p. 108) which interpreters need to assess carefully in relation to
other voices in New Testament literature." |
|
| "1
Corinthians 1:26-31: Oral-Scribal Intertexture," Dr. Vernon Robbins. From
The
Tapestry of Early Christian Discourse: Rhetoric, Society and Ideology, London:
Routledge, 1996.
| "Strategies an interpreter uses
for analysis of intertexture regularly have a close relationship to the strategies an
interpreter uses for analysis of inner, social, cultural, ideological and theological
texture." |
|
|
"Epideictic Rhetoric in
Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians 1 - 4," Joop F.M. Smit,
Biblica 2003.
| "In this article an overview is given
of the main characteristics of the epideictic genre and in the light of
this it is argued that in 1 Cor 1–4 Paul presents the four types of this
genre..." |
|
|
"Hearers
of the Call (1 Corinthians 1:1-2, 9, 26a)," John C. Purdy.
Chapter 1 of Returning God's Call: The Challenge of Christian Living.
At Religion Online.
| "If
we had to select one and only one way of picturing
the life of the Christian, it would be the image of one who has heard
and keeps hearing a persistent summons to belief and action." |
|
|
"Apocalyptic Transformation in Paul's Discourse on the Cross," Alexandra
R. Brown, Volume XVI, Number 4, Word & World,
Luther Northwestern Theological Seminary, 1996.
| "Paul's discourse on the cross works as an apocalyptic
'speech-act,' the agent of a perceptual shift that transfers the believer
from a false reality to the authentic reality characterized by having the
'mind of Christ'." |
|
|
| Articles in
ATLAS Journals. (Direct link when you are
subscribed and logged in to
ATLASerials online collection of Religion and Theology Journals.):
| Brueggemann, Walter,
"Bragging about the Right Stuff," Journal for Preachers, 2003.
Image Browse -
PDF |
| Brown, Alexandra R., "Apocalyptic
Transformation in Paul's Discourse on the Cross," Word & World,
1996.
Image Browse -
PDF |
| Cousar, Charles B.,
"Paul and the Death of Jesus," Interpretation, 1998.
Image Browse -
PDF |
| Dinovo, Terrance L., "'Jesus Christ and Him
Crucified': Epiphany Texts from First Corinthians," Word & World,
1995.
Image Browse -
PDF |
| Duggan, Fr. Michael, "The Cross and
the Holy Spirit in Paul: Implications for Baptism in the Holy Spirit,"
Pneuma, 1985.
Image Browse -
PDF |
| Fiore, Benjamin, S.J., "'Covert Allusion' in 1
Corinthians 1-4," The Catholic Biblical Quarterly, 1985.
Image Browse -
PDF |
| Goetz, Ronald, "Proud to Be Humble,"
The Christian Century, 1979.
Image Browse -
PDF |
| Green, Donald E., "The Folly of the
Cross," Master's Seminary Journal, 2004.
Image Browse -
PDF |
| Harakas, Stanley S., "Journey to the
Cross," The Christian Century, 1997.
Image Browse -
PDF |
| Keck, Leander E., "God the Other Who
Acts Otherwise: An Exegetical Essay on 1 Cor 1:26-31," Word & World,
1996.
Image Browse -
PDF |
| Ker, Donald P.,
"Paul and Apollos--Colleagues or Rivals," Journal for the Study of
the New Testament, 2000.
Image Browse -
PDF |
| Lampe, Peter, "Theological Wisdom and
the 'Word about the Cross,'" Interpretation, 1990.
Image Browse -
PDF |
| Marshall, I. Howard,
"Living in the 'Flesh'," Bibliotheca Sacra, 2002.
Image Browse -
PDF |
| Marshall, Molly T., "Forsaking a
Theology of Glory: 1 Corinthians 1:18-31," Ex Auditu, 1991.
Image Browse -
PDF |
| O'Day, Gail R., "Jeremiah 9:22-23 and
1 Corinthians 1:26-31: A Study in Intertextuality," Journal of
Biblical Literature, 1990.
Image Browse -
PDF |
| Polhill, John B.,
"The Wisdom of God and Factionalism: 1 Corinthians 1-4," Review and
Expositor, 1983.
Image Browse -
PDF |
| Smit, Joop F.M.,
"'What Is Apollos? What Is Paul?' In Search for the Coherence of First
Corinthians 1:10-4:21," Novum Testamentum, 2002.
Image Browse -
PDF |
| Trotti, John B.,
"Expository Article: 1 Corinthians 1:18-31," Interpretation,
1991.
Image Browse -
PDF |
| Welborn, L.L., "On the Discord in Corinth: 1
Corinthians 1-4 and Ancient Politics," Journal of Biblical Literature,
1987.
Image Browse -
PDF |
| Willimon, William, "Looking Like Fools," The
Christian Century, 1982.
Image Browse -
PDF |
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| Sermons:
|
"The Challenges and Blessings Disabilities Bring,"
Mental Health & Disabilities Program, Mennonite
Central Committee, Canada. |
|
"The Foolishness of Faith,"
19 March 2006, Hubert
Beck, Göttinger Predigten im Internet: Every Sunday Sermons based on the
RCL by a team of Lutheran theologians/ pastors. |
|
"Things that Change and Things that Don't," the Rev. Dr. Thomas Lane
Butts, Day 1, 2002. |
|
"Fools for Christ," Dean William Willimon, Duke Chapel Sermon Archive,
1997. |
|
"Is That Your
Soul Phone Ringing?" Fr. Paul Boudreau,
30 Good
Minutes, Chicago Sunday Evening Club, 2002. |
|
"The Word of the Cross,"
Dean William Willimon,
Duke Chapel Sermon Archive, 1999. |
| Pastor Edward F.
Markquart, Grace Lutheran Church, Seattle,
Washington - Sermons from Seattle:
|
|
| Reviews:
| Welborn, L.L., Paul, The Fool of
Christ: A Study of 1 Corinthians 1-4 in the Comic-Philosophic Tradition.
T&T Clark, 2005.
Review
by Russell Morton, Review of Biblical Literature, 2007. |
|
| With Children:
|
"The
Birthday of Clowns," Rev. Dr. Edgar Mayer, Lutheran Church of Australia. |
|
"God Chooses the
Foolish to Put the Wise to Shame," Sunday School
Lessons: Family Bible Study, art projects, music, stories, etc. |
|
"God's Call - That
No Flesh Should Glory,"
children's study, puzzles, coloring sheet, etc. Higher Praise Christian
Center. |
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| Drama:
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| Graphics & Bulletin Materials:
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| Hymns and Music:
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| Fine Arts Images Linked at The Text This Week's
Art Index: |
| Study Links and Resources for the
Book of 1 Corinthians |
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