Kress Biblical Resources :: The Wisdom of the Cross and Christian Ministers (1Co 1:10-4:21)

Detailed Outline of 1 Corinthians

The Wisdom of the Cross Purifies and Unites Believers, the Wisdom of the World Pollutes and Divides

2. The wisdom of the cross and Christian ministers (1Co 1:10-31; 1Co 2; 1Co 3; 1Co 4:1-21)
   1. The report of divisions over Christian ministers (1Co 1:10-17)
      1. The call to unity is vital in the wake of divisions (1Co 1:10-12)
         1. The call for unity (1Co 1:10)
            1. The authority and basis of the call for unity (1Co 1:10a)
            2. The agreement necessary for Christian unity (1Co 1:10b)
         2. The communique from Chloe’s people (1Co 1:11-12)
            1. The source (1Co 1:11a)
            2. The strife (1Co 1:11b)
            3. The separation (1Co 1:12)
               1. Introduced (1Co 1:12a)
               2. Illustrated (1Co 1:12b)
                  • I am of Paul
                  • I of Apollos
                  • I of Cephas
                  • I of Christ
      2. The cross of Christ saves and unifies—cleaving to men separates and undermines the gospel (1Co 1:13-17)
         1. The probing questions (1Co 1:13)
            1. Has Christ been divided?
            2. Was Paul crucified for you?
            3. Were you baptized in the name of Paul?
         2. The priority of the cross of Christ (1Co 1:14-17)
            1. The symbol of baptism cannot save (1Co 1:14-17a)
               1. Paul’s relief at not having baptized many (1Co 1:14-15)
                  • The relief expressed in praise (1Co 1:14a)
                  • The recall of the exceptions (1Co 1:14b)
                  • The reason—no one can say they were identifying with Paul (1Co 1:15)
               2. Paul’s remembrance that reveals the symbolic nature of baptism (1Co 1:16-17a)
                  • A further recollection (1Co 1:16a)
                  • A final rejoinder (1Co 1:16b)
                  • A fundamental calling to preach the gospel (1Co 1:17a)
            2. The proclamation of the gospel is God’s means of unleashing the saving power of the cross (1Co 1:17b)
               1. The priority of preaching the gospel
               2. The power is in the message not the messenger or the delivery
   2. The rebuke of divisions over Christian ministers (1Co 1:18-31; 1Co 2; 1Co 3; 1Co 4:1-5)
      1. Divisions reveal a misunderstanding of the message of the gospel (1Co 1:18-31; 1Co 2; 1Co 3:1-4)
         1. The message of the gospel destroys the wisdom of the world (1Co 1:18-31; 1Co 2:1-5)
            1. The power of the cross contradicts the pride and wisdom of the world (1Co 1:18-25)
               1. The word of the cross is a matter of life and death (1Co 1:18-21)
                  • It reveals your spiritual condition (1Co 1:18-19)
                    • Folly or faith—dying or being delivered (1Co 1:18)
                    • Judicially blinded or joyously believing (1Co 1:19)
                  • It requires faith and reveals the foolishness of human wisdom (1Co 1:20-21)
                    • The wisdom of the world is inadequate for salvation (1Co 1:20)
                    • The word of the cross is salvation for those who believe (1Co 1:21)
               2. The weakness of God is stronger than the wisdom of men (1Co 1:22-25)
                  • The wisdom of men (1Co 1:22)
                    • Seeking for signs
                    • Searching for wisdom
                  • The weakness of God (1Co 1:23-25)
                    • Christ crucified—a stumbling block or silly to the unbelieving (1Co 1:23)
                    • Christ crucified—salvation to the called (1Co 1:24)
                    • Christ crucified—wiser than men, stronger than men (1Co 1:25)
            2. The people God has chosen condemns the pride and wisdom of the world (1Co 1:26-31)
               1. Examine the sinners called of God in Corinth (1Co 1:26)
                  • Not many wise according to the flesh
                  • Not many mighty
                  • Not many noble
               2. Examine the sovereign choice of God in summary (1Co 1:27-29)
                  • God chooses the foolish
                  • God chooses the weak
                  • God chooses the nobodies (1Co 1:28)
                  • God chooses so that no one may boast before Him (1Co 1:29)
               3. Examine the sufficiency of God’s provision in Christ (1Co 1:30)
                  • God’s doing
                  • God’s wisdom
                  • God’s righteousness
                  • God’s sanctification
                  • God’s redemption
               4. Exalt the supremacy of God and God’s wisdom in the cross of Christ (1Co 1:31)
            3. The preaching of the cross converts people by the power of God rather than the wisdom of men (1Co 2:1-5)
               1. The message that converts sinners (1Co 2:1-2)
                  • The testimony of God rather than human eloquence (1Co 2:1)
                  • The teaching of Jesus Christ’s Person and work (1Co 2:2)
               2. The manner that commends God’s saving power rather than men’s wisdom (1Co 2:3-5)
                  • Reverence and humility (1Co 2:3)
                  • Revealing the Spirit-inspired Word (1Co 2:4)
                  • Recognizing sovereignty elicits faith, not the wisdom of men (1Co 2:5)
         2. The message of the gospel declares the wisdom of God (1Co 2:6-16; 1Co 3:1-4)
            1. God’s wisdom is not revealed through natural means (1Co 2:6-9)
               1. God’s wisdom is recognized only by those who are mature (1Co 2:6a)
               2. God’s wisdom does not rise from the natural realm (1Co 2:6b)
               3. God’s wisdom is referenced as an eternal plan (1Co 2:7)
               4. God’s wisdom was not recognized by the rulers of this age (1Co 2:8)
               5. God’s wisdom is revealed as a gift to those who love Him (1Co 2:9)
            2. God’s wisdom is revealed through God’s Spirit (1Co 2:10-13)
               1. God’s Spirit alone makes known God’s wisdom (1Co 2:10a)
               2. God’s Spirit alone knows God’s wisdom (1Co 2:10b-11)
               3. God’s Spirit makes known God’s Word to God’s people (1Co 2:12)
               4. God’s Spirit makes known God’s Word to God’s people through the Apostles (1Co 2:13)
            3. God’s wisdom is received only by those who are receptive to God’s Spirit (1Co 2:14-16; 1Co 3:1-4)
               1. God’s wisdom is rejected by the natural man/unbeliever (1Co 2:14)
                  • Because it is foolishness to him
                  • Because he cannot understand it
                  • Because it is spiritually appraised, and he has not been born of the Spirit
               2. God’s wisdom is received by the spiritual man/Spirit-filled believer (1Co 2:15-16)
                  • Because a Spirit-indwelled person can discern truth, though the world does not recognize it (1Co 2:15)
                  • Because he is illumined by the Spirit of God (1Co 2:16)
               3. God’s wisdom is not received well by the carnal/immature believer (1Co 3:1-4)
                  • The brethren at Corinth were babies in Christ (1Co 3:1)
                  • The babe in Christ/spiritually immature cannot digest the truth of God’s Word well (1Co 3:2)
                  • The barometer of immaturity is the presence of jealousy, strife, and divisions (1Co 3:3-4)
                    • The world is driven by jealousy and strife (1Co 3:3)
                    • The world is driven by divisions (1Co 3:4)
      2. Divisions reveal a misunderstanding of the role of ministers of the gospel (1Co 3:5-23; 1Co 4:1-5)
         1. Ministers of the gospel serve as workers in God’s field (1Co 3:5-9)
            1. Ministers are servants of salvation—the Lord is sovereign over salvation (1Co 3:5-6)
               1. The servants—Apollos, Paul (1Co 3:5a)
               2. The Sovereign—the Lord (1Co 3:5b)
               3. The servants—Apollos, Paul (1Co 3:6a)
               4. The Sovereign—God (1Co 3:6b)
            2. Ministers are powerless in and of themselves—God is Potentate alone over His people (1Co 3:7-9)
               1. The servants compared to the Sovereign (1Co 3:7)
               2. The unity of the servants and the uniqueness of their reward (1Co 3:8)
               3. The fellow workers and the field explained (1Co 3:9)
         2. Ministers of the gospel serve as workers on God’s building (1Co 3:10-23)
            1. God will evaluate each minister’s work (1Co 3:10-15)
               1. The wise master builder and the foundation of true ministry (1Co 3:10-11)
                  • The start of the work by the master builder (1Co 3:10a)
                  • The sub-contractors’ work in ministry (1Co 3:10b)
                  • The scrupulous care needed in ministry (1Co 3:10c)
                  • The sole foundation for ministry (1Co 3:11)
               2. The work of the ministry and the test of true ministry (1Co 3:12-15)
                  • The illustration of imperishable vs. perishable materials (1Co 3:12)
                  • The inspection of each man’s ministry (1Co 3:13)
                  • The inheritance of the faithful ministry (1Co 3:14)
                  • The inglorious but merciful result of a perishable ministry (1Co 3:15)
            2. God will execute vengeance on those who vandalize God’s building (1Co 3:16-17)
               1. Recognize that the church is God’s dwelling (1Co 3:16)
               2. Recognize that vengeance will come on those who vandalize God’s dwelling (1Co 3:17)
            3. God will exalt the humble and humble the proud—so that He alone is exalted (1Co 3:18-23)
               1. God exalts the humble and humbles the proud (1Co 3:18-20)
                  • The warning—don’t be deceived by pride (1Co 3:18)
                  • The Word of God that confirms this (1Co 3:19-20)
                    • Job 5:13 (1Co 3:19)
                    • Psalm 94:11 (1Co 3:20)
               2. God alone is worthy of our boasting (1Co 3:21-23)
                  • Let no one boast in men (1Co 3:21a)
                  • Let us examine the magnitude of our blessing in Christ (1Co 3:21a-22)
                  • Let God alone through Christ be our boast (1Co 3:23)
         3. Ministers of the gospel serve as waiters of God’s wisdom (1Co 4:1-5)
            1. The proper view of Christian ministers (1Co 4:1)
            2. The personal responsibility of Christian ministers (1Co 4:2)
            3. The proper judgment of Christian ministers (1Co 4:3-5)
               1. The examination of men is partial at best (1Co 4:3-4a)
               2. The examination of the Lord is preeminent and perfect (1Co 4:4b-5)
   3. The remedy for divisions over Christian ministers (1Co 4:6-21)
      1. Learn that extra-biblical judgements lead to pride rather than humility (1Co 4:6-13)
         1. The purpose of the preceding comparison between Paul and Apollos (1Co 4:6)
         2. The perspective of self-grandeur rather than gratefulness and future glory (1Co 4:7-8)
            1. God’s gifts should lead to gratefulness not self-grandeur (1Co 4:7)
            2. God’s coming Kingdom should lead to hope for future glory not haughtiness in the church (1Co 4:8-13)
               1. The condescending self-grandeur of the Corinthian church (1Co 4:8a)
               2. The contrasting selflessness of the apostles (1Co 4:8b-13)
                  • The exaltation of the Kingdom is still future (1Co 4:8b)
                  • The example of the apostles reveals the glory of humility to men and angels (1Co 4:9)
                  • The example of the apostles should humble the Corinthians church (1Co 4:10)
                  • The example of the apostles’ hope should be evident by what they endure now (1Co 4:11-13)
                    • Poverty (1Co 4:11)
                    • Persecution (1Co 4:12ab)
                    • Perseverance in hope (1Co 4:12c-13)
      2. Learn to imitate Paul’s apostolic example (1Co 4:14-17)
         1. His example—love (1Co 4:14-16)
            1. Paul wrote not to shame or embarrass (1Co 4:14a)
            2. Paul wrote to exhort and encourage in love (1Co 4:14b)
            3. Paul was not just a tutor but a father in the faith (1Co 4:15)
         2. His emissary—Timothy (1Co 4:17)
            1. Timothy was a faithful and beloved example of Paul’s ministry (1Co 4:17a)
            2. Timothy was a faithful teacher of Paul’s doctrine (1Co 4:17b)
      3. Learn to humble yourself before God rather than be humbled by His discipline (1Co 4:18-21)
         1. God will surely reveal the truth about our pride (1Co 4:18-20)
            1. Pride thinks it will never be humbled (1Co 4:18)
            2. Power is revealed in humility not proud talk (1Co 4:19-20)
               1. God will expose the empty words of the proud (1Co 4:19)
               2. God’s kingdom will not be filled with haughty talkers, but rather the humble who walk in His power (1Co 4:20)
         2. God will surely humble His erring people (1Co 4:21)
            1. The type of training/discipline is dependent on the response of His people (1Co 4:21a)
            2. Tough training is for those who will not humble themselves upon hearing the Word of God (1Co 4:21b)
            3. Tenderness and love await those who humble themselves upon hearing the Word of God (1Co 4:21c)