ccording to Paul, however, the wise did not comprehend the most important aspects of being human, the earthly power of the mighty was transitory at best, and noble birth did not confer the blessing of God. Nevertheless, in the Corinth of the day, conventional wisdom, physical power, and heredity noble birth were the characteristics prized most by most people in Corinth (certainly by those people so characterized and as well by many others who aspired to higher levels of earthly benefits).
Paul, in 1 Corinthians 1:26-31, made it clear that secular status did not confer divine favor (1 Corinthians 1:29-30). The people who will be favored by God are those people who accept the will and values of God and become a part of the church of God (Winter, 1994).
2. Discuss how Jeremiah 9:24 informs Paul's argument in 1 Corinthians 1:26-31.
In Jeremiah 9:7-11, the power of God to exercise dominion over earth and humankind was made quite clear. Made quite clear also was that a multitude of risk and threats existed for those people who relied on their wisdom, their power, and their social status to gain for themselves preferential status and benefits in society. These risks and threats eventually will overcome the ephemeral social strengths relied upon by the wise, the mighty, and society's nobles. Because only God can grant eternal benefits, Jeremiah 9:23 admonishes these people as follows: Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches. Instead, Jeremiah 9:24, urges people to glory in understanding and knowing God. Jeremiah 9:7-26 attributed the problems of Judah to those who gloried in conventional wisdom, physical might, and earthly riches, as opposed to glorifying oneness with God (McConville, 1994).
The message of Jeremiah 9:23-26, therefore, directly informed Paul in 1 Corinthians 1:26-31. The logic expressed by Paul in explaining why God called ...