Paul reminds the Corinthians not only what they were like when first called to Christ (not many wise, not many mighty, not may noble) but now he reminds them of when he first came to them with the Gospel. What was his presentation like? In the first two verses he demonstrated the 'what', the content. Two choices: wisdom and superiority from man or from God. He gave them the wise mystery of God, Jesus Christ and Him crucified. Next, in verses 3 and 4 Saint Paul demonstrated the 'how', the way he gave that content from God. And he did so in God's way: humble, showing dependence on God, living out the cross while he shared the cross and it resulted in spiritual power not from man but from God. Regeneration flooded the Corinthians from the only source it can originate: the Almighty in heaven. God's content was given and God's methods were used so that (he says) your faith would not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God. From start to finish, our faith and salvation is from God, through God, by God, and for God. |
