1 Corinthians3:1-9—Those who have the spirit possess the
wisdom of God, understand His gifts, and interpret spiritual truths. Live by
interpreting the Law through the Spirit.
To
be mature, Paul shares the wisdom of God. Last week, in Epiphany 5 we dealt
with the wisdom of man. Then we learned that the gospel is not built on man’s
wisdom. There is a greater wisdom, which Paul shares with the mature. When he preached, he gave the facts of the
gospel. Facts dealing with the basics of Christ’s life, death, and
Resurrection. Now comes the understanding of those facts, the doctrine, or the
teaching. Mature Christians receive the teaching; the interpretation,
understanding, and meaning of the facts. This maturity is not the modern “man
come of age: in the sense of outgrowing God, but it is a growth into the wisdom
of God.
To
understand this reading hinges on how one understands the words “those who are
mature.” (v. 6) Some commentators suggest that this expression refers to those
Christians among the Corinthians and especially in other congregations who were
mature in their faith and knowledge of God. The majority of commentators,
however, understand Paul as referring to all Christians. That appears to be the
most plausible interpretation. Accordingly, “wisdom” is not higher knowledge of
God and deeper understanding of His ways but simply Christ and Him crucified.
O
God, the strength of all who put their trust in You. Mercifully accept our
prayers; and because in our weakness we can do nothing good without You, give
us the help of your grace that in keeping Your commandments we may please You
both in will and deed; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with
you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.
Amen. [2]
Collect for Thursday of the week of
Epiphany 5: Father we thank Thee for the
revelation of Thyself to us, Thou who at sundry times and in diverse matters
didst speak unto the fathers by the prophets, but in these days hast spoken to us
by Thy Son. Show us Thy glory, whose face we may not see save in Him whom Thou didst
send; and in Him deliver us, not just from peril, not just from pain, but out
of the bondage of our narrow, selfish ways into the freedom of Thy love – for His
names’ sake. Amen [3]
-9 February
[2] Collect for Epiphany 6, Lutheran Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis
[3] Collect for Thursday of the week of Epiphany 5, For All the Saints, A Prayer Book For and By the Church, Vol. III © 1995 The American Lutheran Publicity Bureau, Delhi, NY
No comments:
Post a Comment