Bible Study 6/26

Proverbs 17: 15-28

v.22 - "A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones."

In this proverb, it is interesting that the joyful heart is not the result of the medicine, but the medicine itself. What it is good medicine for? Depression? Good health in general? The opposite, a crushed spirit, dries up the bones - sucks life and energy out of a person. A joyful heart, then, gives life and energy to the person by contrast. So, it is good medicine for feeling like you are not alive and always tired or lacking energy.

v.27 - "Whoever restrains his words has knowledge, and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding. v.28 Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent."

1 Corinthians 1:18-31

Paul redirects the Corinthians arrogance through factions by pointing them back to Christ as supreme as both the power and wisdom of God. The message of God's redemption through Jesus's sacrifice on the cross is foolishness to those who live by worldly values and wisdom - those whose minds have been darkened in their understanding.

It is interesting to think about how this passage uses the word "wisdom". I think we can go back to vs. 17 "words of eloquent wisdom" to get an idea of what he means by it. He doesn't seem to be referring to the general wisdom of how to live in God's world as outlined in the proverbs. Rather, he seems to be referring to the world's fascination with the rhetorical ability of public speakers and the arguments of philosophers. These may have the power of persuasion, but the "word of the cross" has true power to save.

By understanding this distinction between the world's words of eloquent wisdom and the wisdom of God in the word of the cross, the Corinthians could move towards healing in their factiousness.