Christians and whoever else it may concern, what do you think Rabbi Shaul (Paul) was saying in this passage?

Question

1 Corinthians 1:18-31 For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. (19) For it is written, "I WILL DESTROY THE WISDOM OF THE WISE, AND THE CLEVERNESS OF THE CLEVER I WILL SET ASIDE." (20) Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? (21) For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. (22) For indeed Jews ask for signs and Greeks search for wisdom; (23) but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness, (24) but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. (25) Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. (26) For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; (27) but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, (28) and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are, (29) so that no man may boast before God. (30) But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, (31) so that, just as it is written, "LET HIM WHO BOASTS, BOAST IN THE LORD." 2:1-14 And when I came to you, brethren, I did not come with superiority of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God. (2) For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified. (3) I was with you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling, (4) and my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, (5) so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God. (6) Yet we do speak wisdom among those who are mature; a wisdom, however, not of this age nor of the rulers of this age, who are passing away; (7) but we speak God's wisdom in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God predestined before the ages to our glory; (8) the wisdom which none of the rulers of this age has understood; for if they had understood it they would not have crucified the Lord of glory; (9) but just as it is written, "THINGS WHICH EYE HAS NOT SEEN AND EAR HAS NOT HEARD, AND which HAVE NOT ENTERED THE HEART OF MAN, ALL THAT GOD HAS PREPARED FOR THOSE WHO LOVE HIM." (10) For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God. (11) For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so the thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God. (12) Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God, (13) which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words. (14) But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised. (NASB)

Answer 1

I liked Adara's answer.

Humility is one of the most pervasive themes throughout the Bible. I have some very very unorthodox ideas about the nature of my Creator, and as I've said many times in this forum and others, I know that my beliefs are largely the result of where, when and how I was raised, like almost everyone else on this planet.

But even if we believe that God is somehow finite, capable of anger and lonliness and other human traits, we must all stand in awe of the Supreme Being that created the universe, in all its complexity and majesty.

I think that becoming a father has probably been the most spiritual experienve of my life, because it has shown me so much of what love and protection and free will mean, how important it is to feel love and love, to allow a child too develop his own identity and to deal with the consequences of their decisions. And when a kid gets too smart for their own good, and becomes prideful, it is a form of disrespect that is particularly frustration. I am the parent, you are not.

I AM THAT I AM, God tells us. And we are, uh, not.

Years ago I learned the diference between a commandment and a requirement. I could command my son to do this or not do that, with mixed results. But I REQUIRED him to hold my hand when crossing the street. I REQUIRED him to treat his grandmother with respect. And you know what my fave Bible verse is, from our talks---Micah 6:8. ...."He has shown thee oh man what is good and what the Lord requires of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God." These requirements are all do-able, but that humility thing can be a real challenge.

Answer 2

1 Thess. 2:17. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Once the dead in Christ are raised, they will be joined with those who are still alive. The description of that meeting is quite instructive. Paul describes the event as being caught up together in the clouds to meet Jesus in the air. This statement can certainly inspire visions of people flying through the air to meet Jesus as he is suspended in the clouds. However, if we consider a little more deeply what Paul means by "the air" we get an even more meaningful message. Eph. 2:1-2. As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 n which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. Repeatedly in scripture, Satan is referred to as the ruler of the kingdom of the air. The air is a euphemism for the domain of Satan. If we understand this, we can infer a new image of what is taking place. Rather than meeting at some distance above the ground, we are meeting in what was, up to that time, the dominion of Satan. This reveals clearly that Satan is defeated at Jesus' return. Satan is powerless when confronted by Jesus, and by Jesus' coming to the domain of the "Prince of the world" and the "Ruler of the kingdom of the air," Satan's influence is entirely nullified. Remember that the Thessalonians were experiencing persecution at the hands of what they see as an evil world, where Satan is certainly the king. Furthermore, that persecution had been going on for more than two generations, almost removing from their culture any concept of a world without it. Paul's statement here is a very encouraging statement that when Jesus comes back, Satan will be soundly defeated. The scriptures you quoted in no way means the faithful will be raptured away or go to heaven. Remember Jesus taught us to pray for Gods Kingdom to be on Earth as in the Heavens

Answer 3

He said that he loves you, and God does too. And love hurts sometimes, and we don't get to have everything we want.

We can have music though! lol

He is also saying that God chooses people:
(24) but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.

As a reference to that, Jesus said this:
44 "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day. 45 It is written in the Prophets: 'They will all be taught by God.' Everyone who listens to the Father and learns from him comes to me." (John 6)

We get to be His people! We get to live with Him!
Glory to His name!

Answer 4

Matthew 23

Then Jesus spoke to the crowds and to his disciples, saying: “The scribes and the Pharisees have seated themselves in the seat of Moses. Therefore all the things they tell YOU, do and observe, but do not do according to their deeds, for they say but do not perform. They bind up heavy loads and put them upon the shoulders of men, but they themselves are not willing to budge them with their finger. All the works they do they do to be viewed by men; for they broaden the [scripture-containing] cases that they wear as safeguards, and enlarge the fringes [of their garments]. They like the most prominent place at evening meals and the front seats in the synagogues, and the greetings in the marketplaces and to be called Rabbi by men.

But YOU, do not YOU be called Rabbi, for one is YOUR teacher, whereas all YOU are brothers. Moreover, do not call anyone YOUR father on earth, for one is YOUR Father, the heavenly One. Neither be called ‘leaders,’ for YOUR Leader is one, the Christ.  But the greatest one among YOU must be YOUR minister.  Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

I hope this has answered your question because you are intelligent and I don't need to go any further.

Answer 5

God has hidden His knowledge in simplicity, to the degree that children can see it but some highly intellectuals can't. "Foolishness" to some but the power of the resurrection to others. God has revealed these things to us "by His spirit"

Lot of verses here and a lot of ground covered. God often chooses lowly things to confound the proud. e.g. Jesus was born in a stable not in a palace .......

Answer 6

It means those people who truly repentant of their sinfull ways, will ask the Lord for mercy and forgiveness and ask Him to come into their hearts. Then the Holy Spirit will interpret the Words in the Holy Scripture for you. The one who accepts Christ as Lord and Saviour, are of His fold. as He is the Good Shepherd, and He leads us with His spirit.

Answer 7

metaphor some time make peoples think bad any way
St Poul mean:
The word cross is foolishness to those who are perishing,
but for us who are being saved it is the power of God.
Christ rose from the died and arias who are being saved
it is the power of God,through the cross.

Answer 8

He's saying, "Don't get too full of yourself, Know All!"

But in lots more words. He does tend to ramble.

I wish he'd said something about people who post dirty great slabs of text on Yahoo! Answers and call them questions.

Answer 9

<<>>

The "foolishness of G-D...and the weakness of G-D"???!!!??

This guy has no idea about GOD. He was a Roman who abandoned Judaism and adopted idolatory. The trinity is nothing but polytheism and paganism.

Answer 10

Rabbi Shaul created a gentile version of the message of Jesus and added pagan ideas into it to attract them.

He said that when he was "with the Jews" then he was Jewish, when he was with the Romans.... then he was Roman etc.

He would compromise whatever he needed to get the people to accept HIS religion.

He made some changes and then Constantine sealed the fate of Christianity.


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