1 Corinthians 2: Revelation of God’s Secrets
What is the benefit or liability for using our own talents and wisdom apart from God’s guidance?
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1 Corinthians 2:1 My friends, when I told you my story about God’s grace, I didn’t use fancy words or impressive philosophy that would make me popular,
2:2 because all I wanted was for you to know Jesus, the Messiah, who died that you might live.
King James
1 Corinthians 2:1 And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God.
2:2 For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.
In helping others, what should our topmost goal be?
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1 Corinthians 2:1 My friends, when I told you my story about God’s grace, I didn’t use fancy words or impressive philosophy that would make me popular,
2:2 because all I wanted was for you to know Jesus, the Messiah, who died that you might live.
King James
1 Corinthians 2:1 And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God.
2:2 For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.
How does following human philosophy differ from being guided by the Holy Spirit?
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1 Corinthians 2:3 When I was with you, I humbly trembled with great concern,
2:4 that you experience the power of the Holy Spirit and not be enticed with an appealing human philosophy.
King James
1 Corinthians 2:3 And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.
2:4 And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power.
How can the wisdom of men be a problem?
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Proverbs 14:12 There is a way that seems right but ends in death.
1 Corinthians 2:5 Your faith will stand in the power of God, not the wisdom of men.
King James
Proverbs 14:12 here is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
1 Corinthians 2:5 That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.
Why should we value the words of Paul above the world’s wisdom?
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John 16:13 But when the Spirit of Truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own authority but will say only what he hears. He will reveal to you things to come.
1 Corinthians 2:6 Believers regard our words as wise, different from the pundits of this world, whose words have no value.
King James
John 16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
1 Corinthians 2:6 Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought.
How do we benefit from our inability to figure out God?
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1 Corinthians 2:7 We speak what God knows is true, but in a mystery that people will never figure out on their own. From the beginning, that was his plan for our benefit.
King James
1 Corinthians 2:7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory.
What do you think kept the world’s leaders from recognizing Jesus?
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Matthew 9:34 But the Pharisees said, “He casts out devils by the power of Satan.”
John 8:43 Why don’t you understand what I say? I will tell you why. You do not want to hear my message.
8:44 You come from your father, the devil, and your desires are like his. From the beginning, he was a murderer and opposed the truth, because truth was not in his nature. When he lies, he speaks from his heart, because he is a liar and the father of lies.
1 Corinthians 2:8 The leaders of this world missed the truth. Had they known, they never would have called for Jesus’ crucifixion.
King James
Matthew 9:34 But the Pharisees said, He casteth out devils through the prince of the devils.
John 8:43 Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word.
8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
1 Corinthians 2:8 Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
If we cannot see God or imagine his wonders, how do we know he is real?
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1 Corinthians 2:9 As Isaiah wrote: Eye has not seen nor ear heard. No mind can even imagine the wonders that God has prepared for those who love him.
2:10 God has revealed the truth to us by his Spirit, for the Spirit knows everything about himself and his creation. Past, present, and future, he can reveal the deepest secrets.
King James
1 Corinthians 2:9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
2:10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
For those who walk close to God, always seeking to hear his voice and know his direction, what is the extent of knowledge that might be available to them?
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1 Corinthians 2:10 God has revealed the truth to us by his Spirit, for the Spirit knows everything about himself and his creation. Past, present, and future, he can reveal the deepest secrets.
2:11 Others can know our thoughts, motives, and plans only if we reveal them by our spirit within. In the same way, we can know what God knows only when his Spirit reveals that truth to us.
King James
1 Corinthians 2:10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
2:11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.
What would you say is the fundamental difference between the voice of the world and the voice of the Holy Spirit?
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1 Corinthians 2:2 No longer do we have the spirit of the world working in our lives, but we have the Holy Spirit so we can experience all that God has for us.
King James
1 Corinthians 2:12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
Why do you think God doesn’t reveal more to us, providing all the answers?
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Mark 6:52 Even after the miracle of the loaves, they had not learned what God could do.
John 16:12 I have much more to tell you, but you cannot handle it right now.
1 Corinthians 2:13 Our message is not a product of human wisdom, but we teach what the Holy Spirit is saying, building one divine revelation upon another.
King James
Mark 6:52 For they considered not the miracle of the loaves: for their heart was hardened.
John 16:12 I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.
1 Corinthians 2:13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
What aspect of human reasoning makes it difficult to accept what God says?
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1 Corinthians 2:14 Human reasoning rejects what the Holy Spirit is saying, seeing it as foolishness. We will believe his message only when our spiritual ears are open.
King James
1 Corinthians 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
How can we be sure of any truth?
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1 Corinthians 2:15 With our spirit in tune with God’s Spirit, we can discern the truth while others can’t recognize the truth when they see it.
King James
1 Corinthians 2:15 But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.
By what means did Jesus know the Father’s thoughts?
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John 5:19 “I assure you,” Jesus said, “that the Son can do nothing by his own initiative but will only do what he sees the Father doing. Whatever the Father does, the Son will do likewise.”
1 Corinthians 2:16 Who can know what God is thinking? But we know, because we have the Holy Spirit to reveal the mind of Christ.
King James
John 5:19 Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.
1 Corinthians 2:16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.