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Pathways Through Paul
Daily Devotional
June 3
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Today's Pathway:
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Yesterday we saw that the wisdom of God is revealed to believers by the Spirit of God Who indwells them. Verse 10 says that the Spirit investigates ("searcheth") all things concerning God. He understands everything there is to know about God, even the deep things that are very difficult to comprehend. This may seem obvious to us, for we know that the Holy Spirit IS God. But Paul is really trying to teach the Corinthians the importance of the Holy Spirit here. He gives an illustration in verse 11 by asking this question: who really can understand a man besides that man himself? The answer, of course, is "No one". No one besides myself can ever truly understand what I think or why I do certain things. In the same way, no one really understands the mind of God the Father and the decisions He makes except the Holy Spirit, the third member of the Trinity. Thoralf Gilbrant wrote,
"The point of comparison is that He can know that which no one except God could know. Only the Holy Spirit can recognize, understand, and reveal the heart and mind of God."
It is interesting to note here that this passage shows three ways that the Holy Spirit is involved in bringing the mind of God to man. In verses 10-11 we see the Revelation of God's truth by the Holy Spirit. In verses 12-13 we see the Inspiration of the Scriptures as spoken of by Peter in II Peter 1:21:
"For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost."
The Holy Spirit revealed God's truth to the apostles and prophets, and then by Inspiration saw to it that they recorded exactly what God wanted written down in Scripture. Finally we see the Spirit's ministry of Illumination in the lives of all believers in verse 12 and then in verses 14-16.
According to verse 12 the Christian has received the indwelling of the Holy Spirit so that he or she can understand all that God has given us. Christ said in John 16:13,
"Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak."
Paul says in verse 13 that the information that he had received from God is what he preaches to those who hear him. Again he mentions that he is not using man's methodology (what man's wisdom teaches), but that which the Holy Ghost teaches. Paul then says that the Holy Ghost's wisdom and methodology is to compare spiritual things with spiritual. The literal meaning of the word translated "comparing" is "to judge one thing in connection with another". Thus, spiritual truths have to be determined in the light of other spiritual truths. Matthew Henry made this astute observation,
"We should be comparing one part of revelation with another, the revelation of the gospel with that of the Jews, the discoveries of the New Testament with the types and prophecies of the Old. The comparing of matters of revelation with matters of science, things supernatural with things natural, is going by a wrong measure. Spiritual things, when brought together, will help to illustrate one another; but, if the principles of human art and science are to be made a test of revelation, we shall certainly judge amiss concerning it."
Scripture must always be interpreted through the lens of Scripture, not by the opinions of men. One portion of the Bible never contradicts another portion of the Bible, so when we encounter something that we do not understand we must rely on the Spirit to show us from the totality of Scripture what God is trying to teach us.
Pastor Mark J Montgomery
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