foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of Cod is stronger than men." Again, it is a simple statement set in contrast for greater understanding. He knew his audience. He knew how to communicate to them. He knew the quality of appropriateness. Notice also how Paul used both contrast and graphic illustrations in I Corinthians 3:1, 2 to drive home the point. "And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ." He illus trates exactly what is taking place in their own lives. "I have fed you with milk, and not with meat; for to this time ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able." Consider also I Corinthians 3:11, "For other foundation can no man lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ." That is a powerful concept. Later in the same chapter, we are referred to as the temple of God, where the Spirit of God dwells. In verse 17 Paul said, "If any man defile the temple of God, him shall Cod destroy; for the temple of Cod is holy, which tem ple ye are." Paul was using a styl istic device to clarify the nature of the Christian life. To him, the mes sage was central. "How can I make them understand?" "How can I help them see it?" "How can I help them to remember it?" "How can I be sure that my words will not so decorate the idea, that the idea is lost?" In Paul's content there was logic, but it was not there so that people might say, "how clever." It was there so that they would see the necessity of their own state before the Lord. I have looked at some of the Page 29
who is bound in darkness, now we see. Instead of an individual who is on his way to hell, now we have the hope, the reality, of eternal life. There is a power in this mes sage that is far beyond man's ma nipulation of ideas or words. Paul expresses his desire in Phi- iippians 3:10 to "know Him, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable unto His death." Paul is illustrating the fact that God has power, a power so great that Christ could have vic tory over the grave. If that kind of power is wrapped up in the mes sage of salvation, how can man add to it? That, I think, is what is given to us here in I Corinthians 1:18. Paul knew how to communicate effectively. Individuals today who want to present the message must do so and can do so effectively. They are not to turn their backs upon common sense in the pres entation of this message. We have simply indicated that when a man begins to take the honor to himself and select illustrations, stories and stylistic features that call for ap plause for himself, then he is off base. It is ineffective to those who are perishing. And it is certainly not going to add one ounce of power; in fact, it may simply di minish the power that Cod has al ready placed in the message. Note, however, how Paul did use certain stylistic techniques to state clearly and forcefully the message. In I Corinthians 1:17, he writes, "For Christ sent me not to baptize but to preach the gospel." There is a contrast, a clear concise contrast,which aids understanding. Notice also this succinct statement in I Corinthians 1:25, "Because the
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