The Sermon Notes of Harold Buls
On the Epistle Lessons of the Ingrian Lutheran Church of Russia
Text from 1 Corinthians 2:1-5; 3:5-6, 21-23
Trinity V
1. Before preaching on this text read Acts 16:6-18:11. Paul was the first
apostle to preach in Europe (Macedonia). In Philippi he had his joys and
sorrows (16:14, 19, 23, 33). Also in Thessalonica (17:4,5). Likewise in Berea
(17:11-13). Also in Athens (17:18, 32, 34). 17:31 makes clear that he
preached the Gospel. This turned the men of Athens off. Thence he went to
Corinth. 18:1-11 tells of his joys and griefs. Here he truly becomes the
Apostle to the Gentiles (18:6). And his despondency must have been so deep
that the Lord appeared to him and comforted him (verses 9-10).
2. When Paul became a Christian his former religion and great learning
became mere dung to him, Philippians 3:2-11. But he was not anti-
intellectual. Our text does not condemn true learning. But it does condemn
anything and everything which impedes the message of Christ crucified.
Athens and Corinth were heathen cities. They admired philosophers and
orators. Many of them were skilled in crooked and devious argumentation. In
court cases argumentation often meant more than justice. Paul was fully
aware of the fact that the Greeks considered Christ crucified foolishness. It
is still that way today.
3. Verses 1-5: Paul did not come to Corinth to impress the people with his
great learning and clever argumentation. He came preaching. Some texts read
verse 1 as "testimony of God" while others have "mystery of God." The former
means "what God testifies." The latter: "what God reveals." In either case it
was not Paul's word but _only_ God's Word. On verse 2 of our text compare
1:23. Unconverted human nature considers the centrality of the crucified
Christ in Christianity as an offense or foolishness. Furthermore, the G
The Sermon Notes of Harold Buls
On the Epistle Lessons of the Ingrian Lutheran Church of Russia
Text from 1 Corinthians 2:1-5; 3:5-6, 21-23
Trinity V
1. Before preaching on this text read Acts 16:6-18:11. Paul was the first
apostle to preach in Europe (Macedonia). In Philippi he had his joys and
sorrows (16:14, 19, 23, 33). Also in Thessalonica (17:4,5). Likewise in Berea
(17:11-13). Also in Athens (17:18, 32, 34). 17:31 makes clear that he
preached the Gospel. This turned the men of Athens off. Thence he went to
Corinth. 18:1-11 tells of his joys and griefs. Here he truly becomes the
Apostle to the Gentiles (18:6). And his despondency must have been so deep
that the Lord appeared to him and comforted him (verses 9-10).
2. When Paul became a Christian his former religion and great learning
became mere dung to him, Philippians 3:2-11. But he was not anti-
intellectual. Our text does not condemn true learning. But it does condemn
anything and everything which impedes the message of Christ crucified.
Athens and Corinth were heathen cities. They admired philosophers and
orators. Many of them were skilled in crooked and devious argumentation. In
court cases argumentation often meant more than justice. Paul was fully
aware of the fact that the Greeks considered Christ crucified foolishness. It
is still that way today.
3. Verses 1-5: Paul did not come to Corinth to impress the people with his
great learning and clever argumentation. He came preaching. Some texts read
verse 1 as "testimony of God" while others have "mystery of God." The former
means "what God testifies." The latter: "what God reveals." In either case it
was not Paul's word but _only_ God's Word. On verse 2 of our text compare
1:23. Unconverted human nature considers the centrality of the crucified
Christ in Christianity as an offense or foolishness. Furthermore, the Greeks
did not even believe in capital punishment. They avoided mutilation of the
body except in war. That's why Paul says _"I decided"_ because he knew that
many hearers would object. Christ crucified was central to everything he
said. Luther says here: "It is a wisdom which is powerful, secret, and hidden,
and appears like nothing, because He was crucified and gave up all might and
power of Godhead, hangs there like a miserable, forsaken man, and it seems
as though God would not help Him; of Him alone I know to say and preach,
says St. Paul." "Christ crucified" is the perfect summary of the Gospel. In
verses 1-2 Paul spoke of _what_ he preached. In verse 3 he speaks of his
_condition when_ he preached. Paul suffered from illness but that did not
stop his preaching. "Fear and trembling" occurs four times in Paul,
1 Corinthians 2:3; 2 Corinthians 7:15; Ephesians 6:5; Philippians 2:12. It is
never fear of people but only fear of wanting to do what is right. It is a fear
of living in sin and a fear of respect for Christ. Paul once said: "Our
sufficiency is not of self but only of God," 2 Corinthians 3:5. In verses 4-5
Paul returns to _what_ he preaches. Mere human wisdom, though a gift of
God, is contaminated by sin. Paul's preaching and teaching were divine
wisdom brought by the Holy Spirit in human words. This kind of preaching and
teaching bases peoples' faith on the power of God. Christian faith is grounded
not in human wisdom but in the very power of God, the Gospel of Christ which
is the power of God, Romans 1:16. The word "wisdom" occurs seventeen times
in 1 Corinthians. It is the Epistle of Wisdom, the wisdom of Christ crucified
and the Gospel. It came only by direct revelation of the Spirit to the
apostles. There are two classes of people: those who want mere sinful human
wisdom and those who want the wisdom of the Gospel. Verse 6 means: "we speak
wisdom among those who accent it, the believers."
4. 3:5-6 hardly need explanation. Apollos and Paul (and all preachers) are
only servants through whom people become believers.
5. 3:21-23: _Do not boast in people, not even in St. Paul._ To boast in people
makes you spiritually poor. Everything is subject to Christ. And you are
Christ's. Therefore _all things are yours_ to serve you. Do not become a slave
of anything or any man. All things are yours.
The Sermon Outline of Harold Buls
On the Epistle Lessons of the Ingrian Lutheran Church of Russia
Text from 1 Corinthians 2:1-5; 3:5-6, 21-23
Trinity V
THEME: Let No One Boast In People
INTRODUCTION
Sinful human beings have a tendency to make gods of people. There are many
examples of this in history, but it sometimes happens among Christians too.
At the very beginning of this epistle Paul complains about the factions at
Corinth, see 1:10-17. There was the Paul faction, then the Peter faction, then
the Apollos faction. That's why Paul immediately speaks about the Gospel,
1:18-31. His final sentence: "Let him who boasts boast only in the Lord," our
text follows right after these words. And they occur again at 3:21:
"Therefore, let no one boast in people."
I. HERE PEOPLE GIVE US THE WRONG MESSAGE, 2:1-5
A. They give us mere human wisdom. Paul was not opposed to anyone
getting an education. He was not anti-intellectual. But he was opposed to
those who came with a message which claimed would solve all the
peoples' problems. Sinful human wisdom may help us for this life, but it
cannot give us eternal life. Mere human wisdom does not come by the of
revelation God.
B. They give us mere human wisdom. Paul was not opposed to anyone
getting an education. He was not anti-intellectual, but he was opposed to
those who came with a message which claimed would solve all the
peoples' problems. Sinful human wisdom may help us for this life, but it
cannot make us right with God and give us forgiveness of sins. It cannot
give us eternal life. Mere human wisdom does not come by the revelation
of God.
B. They give us a message which is devoid of power. Paul says in verses
4-5: "My word and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom
but in the showing forth of the Spirit and power so that your faith might
not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God." The most powerful
message in the world is the preaching of Christ crucified for the sins of
the world. That is offensive to Jews and foolishness to the Greeks but it
is the very power and wisdom of God. It gives us the faith to rely on our
Lord now and forever. It gives us the faith that after we die we shall
rise again to life everlasting in heaven.
II. MERE PEOPLE WANT TO BE OUR MASTERS, 3:5-6
Sinful human nature is factious. Read verses 1-4 of chapter 3. Paul says
that owing to the party strife in Corinth people were proving that they
were following their flesh. Some said "I am of the Paul party." Others
said: "I am of the Apollos party." To this Paul says in our text: "Who
then is Apollos?" "Who then is Paul?" He answers his question by saying:
"They are only servants through whom you came to faith." Not even the
apostles were masters. Surely pastors today are not masters. They are
only Christ's servants. They are like Paul who described himself thus
back at 2:3-4: "I came to you in weakness, in fear and in much trembling
and my speech and preaching came not by persuasive words of wisdom
but in the showing forth of the Spirit and power so that your faith might
not be in human wisdom but in the power of God." Again and again Paul
says: "Let no one be your master." And Jesus said: "If anyone desires
to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all," Mark 9:35.
III. ALL THINGS ARE YOURS, 3:21-23
In his most famous essay Dr. Luther said: "A Christian man is a totally
free agent, subject to none and a Christian man is a dutiful servant,
servant to all." The Gospel of Jesus Christ, the message of Christ and
Him Crucified, give all things to me: Paul, Apollos, Cephas, the world,
life, death, things present, things to come, all are mine. The point is
that I am slave to none. I am totally free agent. Only one is my Master
and that is Jesus Christ. This is what we call the freedom of a
Christian man. Do not boast in human beings. Do not be deceived by the
philosophies of mere men. All things are yours in Christ Jesus.
CONCLUSION
Remember Jesus' words at Matthew 23:8-10: "Do not be called Rabbi, for One
is your Teacher, Christ, and you are all brothers. Do not call anyone on earth
your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven. And do not be called
teachers; for One is your Teacher, Christ."
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This text was converted to ascii format for Project Wittenberg
by Marilyn F. Gardner and is in the public domain by permission
of Dr. Buls. You may freely distribute, copy or print this text.
Please direct any comments or suggestions to:
Rev. Robert E. Smith
Walther Library
Concordia Theological Seminary
E-mail: bob_smith@ctsfw.edu
Surface Mail: 6600 N. Clinton St., Ft. Wayne, IN 46825 USA
Phone: (219) 452-2148 Fax: (219) 452-2126
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