42
wisdom', but rather `determined to know nothing among them,
save Jesus Christ, and Him crucified'. The apostle was most
anxious that the faith of these believers should not stand in the
wisdom of men, but, although he so ruthlessly sets aside human
wisdom, he assures the Corinthians that he does speak wisdom
`among them that are perfect'. The identity of these `perfect'
ones may be gathered from a comparison of 1 Corinthians 3 and
Hebrews 5 and 6.
1 Corinthians 3
Hebrews 5 and 6
Babes, carnal, fed with milk, Need of milk, not strong
Building meat. A babe. Full grown
not with meat.
upon the one foundation, that (perfect) ones. Those who
which may be rewarded or go on unto perfection. The
may be consumed by fire.
earth
either
received
blessing or is nigh unto
cursing. Whose end is to
be burned.
For our present purpose, it is enough to note that the `perfect'
one is one who has grown in grace, who has got beyond the
`first principles', and who can be taught further and fuller truth.
In contrast, therefore, with the basic truth of `Jesus Christ and
Him crucified' the apostle continues:
`Howbeit we speak
wisdom among them that are perfect' (1 Cor. 2:6). His subject is
still `wisdom', though not, as he had already said, `the wisdom
of this age, nor of the princes of this age that come to naught'.
Nothing has so far been said about `the mystery'; the apostle has
confined himself to the one subject of `wisdom', the kind of
wisdom of which he spoke, and the kind which he repudiated.