Why was Paul so negative about the Corinthians, claiming they were not wise or influential or noble? He also called them foolish, weak, lowly and despised. Wouldn’t Paul’s words hurt their self-image? A better question is, Does God want us to have a high self-image? There is ample evidence -- both in the secular world and in the Bible -- questioning the value of self-esteem. One study at the University of Michigan found that American school children rank far ahead of students in the rest of the western world in self-confidence but rank near the bottom in actual performance. A study by the National Institute of Mental Health found no correlation between delinquency and self-esteem. Apparently many of these kids are able to feel very positive about themselves while they are engaged in such negative behavior! The apostle Paul warned: “Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought.” The weight of scripture seems clear -- though we can think too lowly of ourselves, the greater danger is to think too highly of ourselves.
So you don’t have much self-confidence? You don’t think you have much to offer others? That isn’t a bad place to be -- just don’t let it keep you from moving toward other people, serving their needs. A lack of confidence in yourself can quickly be turned into confidence in God: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”


Assignment: Many people complain that the Bible is hard to understand or that it is boring. If I picked up Tolstoy's War & Peace, read two pages out of the middle of the book, and then complained that it was boring and incomprehensible, what would you say to me? Isn’t that how we read the Bible? Before next week try to read the whole book of I Corinthians all the way through once or twice. That overview will help you interpret the chapters and verses that we study each week.


Questions for I Cor.2:1-15
1.What was Paul’s strategy and state of mind when coming to Corinth? Did his preceding ministry in Athens have anything to do with it? (acts.17:16-34)
2.What do verses 1-5 tell us about how the gospel should be proclaimed?
3.Why do non-Christians reject the gospel?
4.What is this secret wisdom of God? who is it revealed to? how is it revealed?