Lawrence DeMetrius

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Letter of Apostle Paul – I Corinthians
An Intimate Review
Pt 1 - Divine Insight 1
By Lawrence DeMetrius

In [I Cor 1:1-9] Apostle Paul addresses them who are able to receive and be subject to Yahweh through Jesus Christ. [Mt 11:27; Jn 14:6, 7; I Jn 3:8; 5:20] They are empowered to do so because they have been spiritually empowered to do so and permit themselves to be daily renewed by the Word and Spirit of GOD. [Mt 6:11; Jn 15:5; I Cor 15:31; Jam 4:7] They are able to do so continually because they remain motivated to recognize and deal with themselves realistically per this daily renewal, which is the only way THE LORD can worshipped. [St Jn 4:23, 24; Acts 1:8] No one can wholeheartedly believe in and receive Christ as Master Teacher unless they are drawn to Him by Yahweh. [Mt 11:28-30; Jn 6:37-40, 44, 45, 65] No one can wholeheartedly repent unless they receive of THE LORD a mind to do so, which will only happen at reverent acknowledgment of the Testimony of Christ. [II Tim 2:25, 26] Those who are eternally perishing from the delightful presence of THE LORD view the declaration of Christ’s Gospel as FOOLISHNESS. [I Cor 1:18, Rm 1:16, 17]

*foolishness Gk #3472 moria (mo-ree-ah) it is…

1. silliness, which is being…
a. weak-minded, lacking good sense, stupid and dazed
b. foolish, ridiculous, irrational and stunned

2. absurdity, which is being…
a. utterly or obviously senseless, illogical and untrue
b. contrary to all reason and common sense
c. laughably foolish and false

This is the actual state of the unbelieving mind. Until this state is touched by the Yahweh HIMSELF there is no hope for the redemption thereof.




I Corinthians 1:10-17
Identity in Christ

Although there be many Christian sects and denominational affiliations born-again believers are to find their primary identity in Christ Jesus in whose name they are redeemed and preserved for divine worship now and forevermore.

SPEECH

In [I Cor 2:1] Apostle Paul reminds the Saints at Corinth that he did not visit them with intent to showcase his high degree of secular or religious accolades nor his skill of eloquent speech. As it was then so is it today that Christians are warned to guard their minds against philosophers and philosophies that oppose divine insight. [II Jn 7 vs 7-11] One’s collegian status and skill of persuasive speech does not validate that their personal character is acceptable to THE DIVINE. [Mt 7:15-23; 24:5, 11, 24; II Cor 11:3, 4, 13-15] If any Apostle had accolades to boast about it would certainly be Apostle Paul. However, he writes,

And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of SPEECH or of WISDOM, declaring unto you the TESTIMONY of GOD.
[I Cor 2:1]

*speech Gk #3056 logos (log-os) it is…
1. something said including the thought
2. a topic or subject of discourse
3. reasoning of the mental faculty
4. motive or computation which is a making sense of something
5. the Divine Expression i.e., Christ the Word

*wisdom Gk #4678 sophia (sof-ee-ah) it is both the higher/spiritual and lower/worldly wisdom

*testimony Gk #3142 marturion (mar-too-ree-on) it is…
1. something evidential
2. evidence given
3. the Decalogue stored in the sacred tabernacle

Apostle Paul is speaking of the testimony of Yahweh concerning Jesus Christ. [Rm 1:1-3; Jn 16:13; I Cor 2:1-4; I Jn 5:9-12, 20] Therefore, he writes,

For I DETERMINED to KNOW anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.
[I Cor 2:2]

*determined Gk #2919 krino (kree-no) it means to…
1. distinguish, which is to…
a. mark off, set apart and recognize as distinct or different
b. recognize the salient or individual features or characteristics of
c. clearly discern and perceive by sight or other sense
d. make prominent, conspicuous and eminent
2. mentally and judicially decide
3. try, condemn and punish

*know Gk #1492 eido (i-do) it means to…
1. literally or figuratively see, which is to…
a. perceive with the eyes, look at and view
b. visit or attend as a spectator
c. mentally perceive, discern or understand
d. visualize or construct a mental image of
e. accept, imagine or suppose as acceptable

2. perfectly know, which is to…
a. acknowledge with certainty and be cognizant or aware of
b. have established or fixed in the mind or memory
c. be acquainted with as by sight, experience or report
d. understand from experience or attainment
e. be able to distinguish as one from another

Apostle Paul’s only intent was to DISTINGUISH the Gospel of Jesus Christ as PERFECTLY as he could, especially among Christian converts, which was the effort of Christ and His Original Apostles. In [I Cor 2:3, 4] Apostle Paul reminded his audience that he was with them in the things they suffered as Christians instead of glorifying himself as some super saint.

He desired to maintain a humble disposition in their perception of him and did not use his office as a Chief Apostle to puff himself up. He did his best to SPEAK differently from those who use enticing words of mere mortal wisdom. This denotes the ability to persuade listeners to embrace an idea by appealing to their reason or understanding. Thus, if the hearer lacks adequate ability to critically think for themselves, they can fall prey to idealisms that seem good but are not. It has always been that many people perish in various ways because they lack proper knowledge and understanding about certain things. [Hos 4:6] Proper insight regarding of the Holy Scriptures helps to guard one from the influence of anti-Christ doctrines, especially erroneous Christian philosophies. [Mt 7:15-21; 24:24; I Cor 11:3, 4, 13-15; I Jn 2:18-29; 4:1-6; Jn 8:31, 32, 36; II Tim 2:15; 3:16-18; II Jn vs 7-11; Rev 3:7, 8, 10; Dan 12:3, 10]

In [I Cor 2:4, 5] Apostle Paul writes that his SPEECH was also in DEMONSTRATION of the Holy Ghost and of POWER.

*demonstration Gk #585 apodeixis (ap-od-ike-sis) it is manifestation, which is…
• an act of manifesting
• the state of being manifested
• outward or perceptible indication
• materialization
• a public demonstration

FAITH is the SUBSTANCE of THINGS one HOPES for or EXPECTS to MANIFEST in their life, which means to make clear or evident to the eye and understanding. It means to plainly show, prove and put beyond doubt or question. [Heb 11:1]

*power Gk #1411 dunamis (doo-nam-is) it is force, miraculous power and a miracle itself

When one is truly sent by GOD to proclaim HIS Word, their SPEECH and SPEAKING is accompanied with MANIFESTATION of the Holy Ghost and POWER. [Mk 16:16, 17] Per [I Cor 2:4, 5] Apostle Paul, as do all divine teachers desired the FAITH of his audience to STAND in the POWER of Yahweh’s Word and not that of mere mortal wisdom.


*faith Gk #4102 pistis (pis-tis) it is…
1. persuasion and credence
2. moral conviction of a religious truth, the truthfulness of Yahweh or a religious teacher
3. reliance upon Jesus Christ for salvation and constancy in such profession
4. the system of religious truth based on the Gospel of Jesus Christ

*stand Gk #1510 eimi (i-mee) it means I exist, which is to…
• be or have actual being
• live and have life or animation
• continue to be or live
• be in a specified place or under certain conditions
• achieve the basic needs of existence, be found and occur

Yahweh wants people to wholeheartedly believe on HIM and HIS Christ. HE expects HIS worshipers to EXIST as portals by which HE expresses HIS POWER on earth. As was Christ, so are the Elect of GOD in this world. [I Jn 4:17] They have ears that hear and tongues that SPEAK as the learned of Yahweh. They are the ones appointed to SPEAK forth words of life to weary minds. [Isa 50:4; Pro 15:23; Mt 11:28-30; I Pet 4:11; II Cor 3:3] In [I Cor 2:6-8] Apostle Paul reiterates that Yahweh’s kingdom is one of POWER and not of mere words eloquently spoken. [I Cor 4:20] WORDS that the Elect of GOD SPEAK are of divine WISDOM among them who are considered spiritually PERFECT in Christ. It is not of the LOWER/WORLDLY WISDOM that fades to an end.

*speak Gk #2980 laleo (lal-eh-o) it means to talk and utter words

*perfect Gk #5046 teleios (tel-i-os) it means completeness and complete in labor, growth and mental and moral character

*world Gk #165 aion (ahee-on) it is an age, perpetuity including the past and future, the world and specifically a Hebrew Messianic period

Divine WISDOM will remain forever and be fulfilled. [Mt 5:18; Isa 55:11] It is the HIDDEN WISDOM and MYSTERY imparted unto the Elect. [I Cor 2:7; Rev 2:17]

*hidden Gk #613 apokrupto (ap-ok-roop-to) it means to conceal away, keep secret and hide

*mystery Gk #3466 musterion (moos-tay-ree-on) it is a secret or mystery through the idea of silence imposed by initiation into religious rites

This indicates that only the Elect of GOD are entitled to gratuities not offered to non-believers. True worshippers of Yahweh are not obligated to force non-believers to receive, understand or embrace insight, especially since they no mind or capacity to receive it. No degree of knowledge, wisdom, or eloquent speech can of itself enable the unbelieving and unrepentant heart to perceive divine insight. Only THE LORD can provide this mind and does so only at one’s reverent inquiry of HIS testimony concerning HIS Son Jesus Christ. [Rm 1:1-3; I Jn 5:5-20] Apostle Paul writes,

And the servant of THE LORD must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,
In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if GOD peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;
And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.
[II Tim 2:24-26]

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