Mission of God in the NT: 1 Corinthians
1 Corinthians: Persuasive Cross-cultural Witness
In the two letters Paul wrote to the church he planted at Corinth, he manifests an awareness that his was a cross-cultural missionary church planting mission. As he deals with divisions rooted in a cultural attraction to speakers with cleverness pursued with rhetorical technique (“wisdom of word,” 1 Cor 1:17), he points to a proclamation of the gospel which addresses the standards of two ethnic groups: Jews and Greeks (1:18-25). Jews seek “signs”; Greeks seek “wisdom.” Paul’s strategy is to preach a gospel of the cross which is subversive of both values: a scandal to Jews and foolishness to Greeks. For only in that way can a truly culturally transformative gospel be transplanted into their hearts. For as they receive it their faith will not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God (2:4-5).
Not only is the gospel and the Spirit’s saving power transcultural, the congregations formed reflect a transcultural unity, as well as, a multi-ethnic diversity. So, Paul can use the physical body—members imagery and declare, “For, as the body is one and has many members, and although all the members of the body are many, the body is one, so also is Christ. For, indeed, we all by one Spirit have been baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or freedman, and we all have been made to drink of one Spirit” (1 Cor 12:12-13). Unity in the midst of mult-ethnic diversity, all because God’s plan for applying salvation involves an invitation with a universal reach to every culture and tribe and nation and tongue.
Paul in 1 Corinthians teaches us that the gospel is multi-culturally persuasive and births a unified multi-cultural church. Only the culturally transformative power and wisdom of God can do this.
Dr. William Larkin
Professor of Greek and NT, Columbia International University
What can we learn from Paul's strategy to be "a scandal" and "foolishness" to the Corinthians? What are current barriers to growing multi-ethnic congregations, such as the one in Corinth? Please share your thoughts below...
