Understanding and Applying our Curriculum

Understanding and Applying our Curriculum

Consider the following verse from Paul to the Corinthians,

1Cor 2:6  Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought:  (7)  But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:

Paul speaks of a wisdom among those who are perfect. What does this mean, and what can we learn from this statement?

By “wisdom”, Paul refers to the doctrine of the mysteries which he had written and preached. In the context of this passage in Corinthians, he refers to the plan of salvation by the cross of Christ.

This word “perfect” is in reference to believers, as it is in Php 3:15, “Let us therefore as many as be perfect, be thus minded.” Perfect does not mean that believers were sinless, but that they were mature in ‘the faith’ and who had made progress in the knowledge of the doctrine of the mysteries (our curriculum), as opposed to those who were weak in the faith, babes in spiritual things, and the carnally minded, who rejected this wisdom as foolishness, 1Cor 1:21-27.

Isn’t it interesting to parallel this wisdom of Paul, hidden to those who are carnal and persistently ignorant, with the parables of Jesus, which were Kingdom truths purposefully hidden from Jews who had no desire to hear and see in faith. Notice what Paul writes to the Corinthians, saying,

1Cor 3:1  And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.  (2)  I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.  (3)  For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?

Most of the Corinthians were oblivious to the deeper spiritual truths that Paul desired to share. There was no way they would perceive the spiritual truths as they were carnal. Their attention was on earthly things of the flesh. They had more interest in titles, positions, honour, status, and ego. They would envy for these credentials, causing strife and divisions. If one’s attention and desire is in the natural realm, there is no chance that they would receive spiritual truth. It would be like throwing pearls before swine.

1Cor 2:13  Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. (14)  But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 

The ‘natural’ man, referenced above, can refer to an unbeliever, who, being unregenerated in spirit, is unable to perceive spiritual things, because they are spiritually dead. However, in the context here, Paul, writing to the carnal believers in Corinth, refers to them as ‘natural’ and unable to receive a spiritual message, just as a baby is unable to process meat.   

Thus, what we learn from the above verse is that we need to study the curriculum in the correct way. We need to identify and respect the curriculum and study it in the order it is presented to us. There is no limit to how we read the bible. This we can do freely, jumping about to be informed of its content, but when we choose to study it, then we must respect the curriculum, so that we layer our knowledge correctly; so that we can grow past babes and children; so that we can become perfect and likeminded in the knowledge of the mysteries of God.