The Victorious Wisdom of the Cross

7/4/25 Bible Thought (1 Corinthians 2)

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The message of the cross should never get old.

While the Christian will hear it again and again, we should never cease to be amazed. Truly, it is far more magnificent than we’ll ever be able to comprehend. Yes, the gospel is simple and easy enough for a child to understand—and yet, theologians can spend millennia attempting to plumb its depths only to find out that its meaning is bottomless and without end.

When the apostle Paul arrived in Corinth, his message simply was that of the cross. He recounts,

“For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified” (1 Cor. 2:2).

Paul’s goal wasn’t flashy rhetoric like so many philosophers of his day. He didn’t aim to be the smartest guy on the street or one who could out-argue all those around him. No, rather, his goal was simply unfolding the incomparable wisdom of God that is found in the cross.

This is made known to those who are mature, namely the believer in Christ. While the message of the cross is folly to the nonbeliever (1 Cor. 1:18) in it the wisdom of God is revealed.

However, this wisdom was initially hidden. While the cross was the plan of God from before the ages (1 Cor. 2:7) it wasn’t expected or readily understood by the rest of the world.

This is seen no better than in the example of the “rulers of this age” (1 Cor. 2:6,8).

Now, while some translations make this sound like natural, human rulers, such as Pontius Pilate or Caiaphas, the rulers referenced here are more likely spiritual beings, or demonic powers.^[1]

Paul writes,

“None of the rulers of this age understood this, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory” (1 Cor. 2:8).

According to the apostle John, the devil put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot to betray the Lord Jesus (Jn. 14:2).

All the powers of hell celebrated for a short time when the Messiah was bleeding and dying upon a cross, not knowing that they were actually unfolding God’s sovereign plan of redemption and that Christ would soon rise in resurrection.

Ironically, by inciting Judas to betray the Lord, the devil shot himself in the foot.

Sometimes we think of our adversary as being all-knowing like God. While he is a supernatural being, he isn’t God. He didn’t understand the plan of Calvary. He thought Golgotha was his greatest triumph, not realizing that he initiated his own downfall.

The Scripture would later state that Jesus partook of natural flesh and blood so that,

“through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, ¹⁵ and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery” (Heb. 2:14-15).

Just as David once unsheathed Goliath’s own sword to behead him, so the greater Son of David used the devil’s own weapon against him. In death, He conquered, and we will likewise conquer in future resurrection.

This is the message of the cross.

To some its folly. To the demonic powers it was foreign, but to the believer this is the power of God unto salvation. These things are revealed to us through the Spirit of God (1 Cor. 2:10) who comprehends the very thoughts of God (1 Cor. 2:11).

What an incredible privilege to be awakened to the reality of the wonders of the cross! Let us then never get bored of its message. We’ve never heard it too much and we’ll never exhaust its riches.

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^[1] Horst Robert Balz and Gerhard Schneider, Exegetical Dictionary of the New Testament (Grand Rapids, Mich.: Eerdmans, 1990–) 168.