Romans 16; 1 Corinthians 1-2

Romans 16

Paul commends Phoebe

• Called:
  • “servant” (diakonos)
  • helper/patron of many believers
• Likely carried the letter to Rome

Greetings to Many Believers

• Paul greets numerous individuals and house churches
• Important names include:
  • Priscilla and Aquila
    • Couple devoted to ministry 
  • Epaenetus
    • Called beloved
    • First convert
  • Andronicus and Junia
    • Jews 
    • Imprisoned

 Warning Against Divisions

• Paul warns against:
  • false teachers
  • divisive people
• Such people:
  • deceive others
  • serve themselves rather than Christ
• Believers should be:
  • wise about good
  • innocent regarding evil
• Encouraging promise:

“The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet.” 

• Similar Genesis 3:15

Final Greetings

• Paul’s companions send greetings
• Includes:
  • Timothy
  • Tertius
    • the one writing the letter down
• Gaius provides hospitality

 Doxology

• Paul closes with praise to God
• Emphasizes:
  • the gospel
  • revelation of the mystery now revealed
  • obedience of faith among all nations

“To the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ! Amen.” 

1 Corinthians 1

 Background

• Written by Paul the Apostle around AD 53-55 during Paul’s stay in Ephesus (Acts 19)
• Written to the church in Corinth

 Greeting

• Paul introduces himself as an apostle called by God
• Mentions Sosthenes
  • Perhaps man from Acts 18 who was beaten 
• Greets the church with grace and peace

Thanksgiving 

• Paul thanks God for the Corinthians
• They were enriched in speech and knowledge
• They were not lacking in spiritual gifts
• God will sustain them to the end

Divisions in the Church

• Paul urges unity
• Reports of quarrels from Chloe’s household
• Different groups claim loyalty to:
  • Paul
  • Apollos
  • Cephas
  • Christ
• Paul emphasizes:
  • the gospel matters more than favorite leadership
  • he was sent primarily to preach, not create fights through baptism

The Message of the Cross

• The cross appears foolish to the world
  • But to believers it is the power of God
• Paul contrasts human wisdom vs God’s wisdom
  • Quotes Isaiah 29:14
  • God cannot be found with human wisdom 
• Jews seek signs and Greeks seek wisdom
• Paul preaches Christ crucified
• God saves through what the world considers foolish

 God Uses the Weak

• Not many Corinthians were:
  • wise
  • powerful
  • noble
• God chose:
  • the foolish
  • weak
  • lowly
• so no one may boast before God
• Christ becomes for believers:
  • wisdom
  • righteousness
  • sanctification
  • redemption

“Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.

1 Corinthians 2

Paul’s Simple Preaching

• Paul reminds them how he came:
  • not with lofty speech
  • not with worldly wisdom
• Focused only on Jesus Christ and Him crucified
• Paul ministered in:
  • weakness
  • fear
  • trembling
• The Spirit’s power (not human persuasion) produced faith

God’s Hidden Wisdom

• There is a true wisdom from God
• This wisdom was hidden before the ages
• The rulers of this age did not understand it
• If they had understood they would not have crucified God
• Paul quotes Isaiah 64:4 “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard…” 
• God reveals His wisdom through the Spirit

 The Spirit Reveals God

• Only the Spirit of God truly knows God
• Believers have received the Spirit from God
• The Spirit will teach and guide us

 Spiritual vs Natural Person

• The “natural person” does not accept the things of the Spirit
• Spiritual things are spiritually discerned
• The spiritual person (not the “natural man”) can judge

“But we have the mind of Christ.” 

Application

Romans shows us how important each individual of the church is while 1 Corinthians starts that we should not be obsessed with status or intelligence. Christ has the ultimate authority and wisdom, not our human nature. Human “wisdom” is no match.