1 CORINTHIANS 2
CONTEXT: Paul in Chapter 2 tells the church at Corinth to rely on Christ’s wisdom and the leading of the Holy Spirit. Paul could have said look to me, my teachings but then the focus shifts from God to man. Our text makes it clear that those without God think the things of God foolishness.
Matthew Henry breaks it down as follows: The apostle proceeds with his argument in this chapter, and, I. Reminds the Corinthians of the plain manner wherein he delivered the gospel to them (v. 1-5). But yet, II. Shows them that he had communicated to them a treasure of the truest and highest wisdom, such as exceeded all the attainments of learned men, such as could never have entered into the heart of man if it had not been revealed, nor can be received and improved to salvation but by the light and influence of that Spirit who revealed it (v. 6 to the end).
This is an important verse for every believer. Why you ask, three things I would suggest:
- First, we were all once like the foolish unbelievers and need to have empathy for them.
- Second, we need to remember that these foolish folks of the world do not think like us, act like us, or have the same desires as us. In fact Christ says they will hate us.
- Third, their foolishness, needs to be the basis of how we evangelize them. We need to approach sharing the Gospel with folks as if they were an enemy, that is cautiously and with the whole armor of God. There is no boiler plate way to fight (or Win) battles, or evangelize, each circumstance and person is different, we must be every flexible, in our approach.
Spiritual Discernment, in short, is the decision making process based upon guidance by the Holy Spirit. It differs from that of Biblical Discernment which is the decision making process based upon Biblical knowledge. Whereas one can grow in Biblical Discernment (study, meditate etc.) only God can increase Spiritual Discernment. Every True Christian should be praying daily for an increase in Spiritual Discernment.
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