Lutheran Seminary – Moved by the Promise – God Pause - Wednesday, 29 January 2013 – Kehillah in Corinth I-1

Lutheran Seminary – Moved by the Promise – God Pause - Wednesday, 29 January 2013 – Kehillah in Corinth I-1: 18 For the message of HaEtz HaKelalat Hashem (the Tree of the Curse of G-d—Dt 21:23) is narrishkait to the ones perishing. But to us who are being delivered in Yeshu’at Eloheinu, it is the gevurat Hashem (the power of G-d).

19 For it has been written, “I will destroy CHOCHMAT CHACHAMAV (the wisdom of the wise ones) U’VINAT NEVONAV (and the intelligence of the intelligent) I will set aside.” Isa 29:14.

20 Where is the chacham (wise man)? Where is the sofer (scribe) of the yeshiva, where is the talmid chacham? Where is the philosophical debater of the Olam Hazeh? Did not Hashem make the so-called chochmah (wisdom) of the Olam Hazeh to look like narrishkait? [Isa 19:11,12; Job 12:17; Isa 44:25; Jer 8:9]

21 For, als (since)—and this was by the chochmah of Hashem—the Olam Hazeh did not by its chochmah have da’as of Hashem, G-d was pleased through the "sichlut" (foolishness) of the Hachrazah (Proclamation, Kerygma, Preaching) of the Besuras HaGeulah to save the ma’aminim (believers).

22 Yehudim ask for otot (signs Ex 7:3) and Yevanim (Greeks) seek chochmah,

23 But, we proclaim Moshiach and nivlato al haEtz (“his body on the Tree,” DEVARIM 21:23): to Jews, a michshol (YESHAYAH 8:14); to Goyim, narrishkait (foolishness).

24 Yet, to those whom Hashem has given the kri’ah (1C 1:1-2) and summoned, to HaKeru’im (to the Called Ones), both to Yehudim and to Yevanim Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach, the Gevurat Hashem and the Chochmat Hashem.

25 For the so-called “sichlut” (foolishness) of Hashem has more chochmah than Bnei Adam, and the “weakness” of G-d has more koach (power) than Bnei Adam (1:18).

26 For you see your kri’ah (call), Achim b’Moshiach, what you were, that not many of you were chachamim (wise ones) by the standards of Bnei Adam, not many ba’alei hashpa’ah (people of influence), not many ba’alei zchus (privileged).

27 But Hashem in His bechirah (selection) chose the things of sichlut (foolishness), that He might bring the chachamim to bushah (shame); and Hashem in His bechirah (selection) chose the things of weakness that He might bring the strong to bushah (shame).

28 And those of the Olam Hazeh without mishpochah atzilah (noble birth) and those which are hanivzim (the despised, Isa 53:3) Hashem chose, choosing the things that are not, in order to bring to naught the things that are.

29 His tachlis (purpose) is that no basar (fallen humanity sold under the power of slave master Chet Kadmon, Original Sin, Rom. 7:14) may boast before Hashem.

30 But you are of Hashem in Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach Yehoshua who became to us chochmah (wisdom) from Hashem, our Tzidkanut (Righteousness) and our Kedushah (Holiness) and our Geulah LaOlam (Redemption to the world), [Jer 23:5,6; 33:16]

31 Al menat (in order that), as it has been written, YITHALLEL HAMITHALLEL B’HASHEM ("The one boasting let him boast in the L-rd" YIRMEYAH 9:23).[TEHILLIM 34:2; 44:8]—Orthodox Jewish Bible

If you could choose a way to demonstrate the power of God, what would you do? Would you reverse global warming? Wipe out hunger? Destroy all stockpiles of nuclear or chemical weapons? Find a cure for all forms of cancer? Fix your church's leaky roof—forever? Make your faith community so interesting and compelling that young adults would flock through the doors?

The Apostle Paul wrote his letter to a Corinthian community that was faithful but divided. They were into the power of God but sometimes missed what was at the center of that power. And who can blame them? The power of God, Paul said, was the message about the cross. If you wanted to demonstrate God's power, would it look like God's Son dying on a cross? That would be foolish, right? An object of humiliation and defeat has embodied God's saving power. Why? To shame the wise and the strong of this world—and to lift up those who are low. How "unworldly" God has acted!

We seek power, O God, and sometimes we live for it. "Might makes right" is often our motto. Help us to give thanks for the power of the cross and to draw life from its long shadow. In Christ we pray. Amen.

Scott Tunseth

General Editor, Fortress Press, Minneapolis, Minn.

Master of Divinity , 1983

1 Corinthians 1:18 For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

19 For it is written, "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart."

20 Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?

21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, God decided, through the foolishness of our proclamation, to save those who believe.

22 For Jews demand signs and Greeks desire wisdom,

23 but we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles,

24 but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.

25 For God's foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God's weakness is stronger than human strength.

26 Consider your own call, brothers and sisters: not many of you were wise by human standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth.

27 But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong;

28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, things that are not, to reduce to nothing things that are,

29 so that no one might boast in the presence of God.

30 He is the source of your life in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification and redemption,

31 in order that, as it is written, "Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord."

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