The Strand Study Bible

Written From Ephesus During Paul’s Third Missionary Journey I CORINTHIANS 11:25), thus God is deliberately working with people whom the world despises ( Jere 38:7 ). Take for example, Mary Magdelene. She is the only one Jesus tells to take the news of His resurrection to the world… and she was a former mental patient. God names five different kinds of people He enjoys using to accomplish His work: 1. Foolish – This word ( foolish ) is the Greek word PZUο9 ( moros ), from which we derive our English word “moron.” The word denotes someone who is dull-witted , non-intellectual , sluggish , and at times silly if not stupid (Num 22:1-5,25) 2. Weak – This word ( weak ) is the Greek word DσθHQH9 ( asthenes ) and means “ strengthless , feeble ” (Judg 6:1,11-15). 3. Base – This word ( base ) is the Greek word DJHQK9 ( agenas ) and means “ low-born , without dignity , of little or no value ” (those at the bottom of the “totem pole” of the human race (Heb 11:32 and Jn 8:39-41), such as, slaves (Exo 1:7-13), criminals (Lk 24:32-33), half breeds (Jn 4:6-7,17-18), and bastards (Jud 11:1-2). 4. Despised – This word ( despised ) is the Greek word H[οXθHQHZ ( exoutheneo ) and means “ to treat with contempt ; to regard as nothing ; to despise utterly ” (Lk 23:6-11 and Phile 8-12). 5. Are nots –This word ( are nots ) is the Greek word PK - οQτD ( ma - onta ) and means “ of no consequence ” (II Ki 6:24-30 & 7:1-9,15-16). NOTE – God uses the simple things (including people) in life to confound the proud (wise). Rarely does God use the “high and mighty” to accomplish His work, unless of course, the “high and mighty” have been humbled (I Ki 21:27-29 and Acts 9:1-6). 2:7 Because the mystery of the Gospel (Eph 6:19), i.e., wisdom of God , was not revealed clearly until after the resurrection of Jesus and the establishment of the Jewish/Gentile Church, the Devil and his demonic servants were the unwitting servants of God. Had they known what they were doing they would not have crucified the LORD OF GLORY (vs 8). 2:9-11 a According to the context of the passage, I Corinthians 2:9 is not referring to the subject of Heaven, but to the revelation of God’s Word. Thus, “ things ” here refer to “spiritual truths.” Randy Alcorn in Heaven notes: Another problem with using I Corinthians 2:9 is that it isn’t talking about Heaven. In its context, it refers to the salvation-related hidden wisdom of God. 1 Paul concluded here that the Word of God contains within its pages “ spiritual truths ” that are so deep, so profound, so precise,and so eternal that man has not even begun to scratch the surface of what “lies beneath” this Sacred Text. NOTE - Due to the invention of high-speed computers, developed within the last twenty plus years, Jewish researchers are now able (via the Bible Codes) to examine their Sacred Text for some of what “lies beneath” ( Mt 5:18 ). 2:11 b It is impossible for the natural man (the unsaved man) to understand the Word of God ( even so the things of God knoweth no man ). Louis Paul Lehman in Questions I Had to Settle notes: 2:11 c According to this verse, spiritual truths cannot be understood apart from the SPIRITOF GOD (vs 10). The HOLY SPIRIT , therefore, is a person, not an influence or a force. His active interest and participation in the affairs of men proves that He has a personality (distinctive individual qualities that make up His person). Cyril C. Richardson in The Doctrine Of The Trinity notes: Thus the Spirit here, far from being God’s inner self, is distinguished from this. He is a heavenly “power” of God– over against the Father–with a mind of his own and operating in the Christian heart. 3 NOTE – There are three essential characteristics that make up a personality: 1. mind ( intellect - I Cor 2:11b and Rom 8:26-27) 2. heart ( emotion - Eph 4:30 , Isa 63:10 , Gal 5:22 and I Thess 5:19) 3. will ( choice - I Cor 2:11b , Heb 9:14 and Acts 8:39) According to the Bible, the HOLY SPIRIT possesses all three essential characteristics: * intellect (He knows the things of God - I Cor 2:11) * emotion (He can be grieved - Eph 4:30) * choice (He decides what gifts we are given - I Cor 12:11) The third word ( σX γ N ρ LQοQτH9 compared) is only found one other time in the NT (II Cor 10:12), where it is properly translated “compare.” Thus I Corinthians 2:13 informs us as to how the SPIRIT OF GOD teaches us His Word by “ comparing spiritual things with spiritual i.e., comparing scriptural truth with scriptural truth. If we are to be careful students of the Word of God and the HOLY SPIRIT is to be our teacher, then we must learn to study God’s Word the way HE intended us to study it. It’s called hermeneutics (the science of interpretation). NOTE – There are seven prerequisites to better understanding God’s Word: 1. We must learn to compare scripture with scripture (taking one passage of Scripture and using it to shed light on another passage of Scripture - vs 13) According to the Bible the SPIRIT OF GOD teaches us truth by comparing “scripture with scripture” ( spiritual things with 1881 The Bible is a spiritual book. We are informed that a natural man cannot receive this communication beyond its mere letter. This inability may cause an intelligent, capable, and perceptive man to imagine the Bible is scientifically- retarded. This is not the fault of the Word. This is the fault of the man. By spiritual perception, and by such means alone, this intelligence of God is translated to us so that we understand the things of God. 2 The HOLY SPIRIT is therefore a person ( THIRD PERSON of the Triune Godhead). 2:13 This phrase ( comparing spiritual things with spiritual ) comes from three Greek words: spiritual things spiritual things compared SQHXPDτLNοL9 SQHXPDτLND σX γ N ρ LQοQτH9