Big Idea: Christians cannot use the commonly accepted wisdom that guides the surrounding culture as the standard for their thinking and living.

Understanding the Text

In the ancient world, “wisdom” was not an abstract concept unrelated to daily living. To the contrary, it was a way of living based on a given understanding of life’s purpose and of what actions reasonably would accomplish such purpose. Various philosophers (lit., “lovers of wisdom”) competed to gain a following for their particular brand of how-to-live.

Similar competition and pursuit of prominence lay at the core of the Corinthian cliques. Enamored with the “wisdom” and success of the professional speakers in the city, a number of house churches were using a similar approach to put them ahead of other church groups. Such…