Ephesus -- This week we are in Ephesus where we were told we could find the Apostle Paul, also known to many as Saul. Someone told us, "If you want to find Paul, just look for controversy, and Paul will be in the middle of it." In fact that is exactly where we found him.
Some messengers have come from Corinth and have told Paul about quarrels, disputes and divisions among the disciples of Jesus in that city. One controversy in particular centers on the cross. Many Greek scholars and philosophers, those learned in the ways of nature and the universe, scoff at the teachings about Jesus’ cross. They point out that it is physically and medically impossible that Jesus, after dying on a Roman cross, could have been dead for three days and then come to life again. Even many of the Jews in that community, though they have no trouble accepting the resurrection, find it difficult to believe that God incarnate could be crucified.
In response to these arguments Paul said:
"For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written:
"I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate."
Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength." (1 Cor 1:18-25 NIV)
To those who don’t want to believe, this may not be a very strong argument. But then, that is exactly what Paul was talking about. Isn’t it?
If you have comments or suggestions, email me at gerrys@christianlight.com
Copyright © 1996 by Gerry Sturgeon
Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION ®, Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved.