Summary - I Cor: 1: 17-25

Then and Now: Verses are a second section of Paul's steps to address the Corinthians problems of disunity. They deal with the message of the cross. Paul's words are like a two-way mirror. For those who know that God is and see the message of the cross as truth, the light is on behind the mirror. They recognize the true reality of a creation with designated spiritual and physical dimensions. Those who refuse to believe in God and his plan to send the Son, can only see the image of the physical world. God's redemptive plan and Christ crucified cannot be understood. Denigrating the action of preaching the gospel as foolishness, they look for signs or eloquent cleverness in speakers able to win all arguments. Truth is relative, not absolute. It suited God to turn cleverness on its head and give wisdom to the humble.