9:30-33 Paul says the Gentiles attained righteousness even though they were not pursuing it. But the Jews zealously pursued righteousness by observing the law and yet did not attain it. That doesn't sound fair. How could God give righteousness to pagans who weren't even trying and not give righteousness to His people who were trying very hard? Because His people, the Jews, pursued it by works and not by faith in Christ.  

God put a stumbling stone (Christ) in their path. But those who trust in Christ, whether Jew or Gentile, will never be put to shame. That is, they will never be sorry that they trusted Him.  

Faith = Belief + Trust. Genuine faith is not just believing that Jesus exists but also trusting that He has done what He said He's done.

10:1-4 Paul sincerely wants the Jews to be saved. This is remarkable given the fact that much of his persecution came from the Jews. He knew they were "zealous for God" but their zeal was not based on knowledge of the righteousness that comes through Christ. The Jews sought to establish a righteousness of their own and did not "submit" to God's righteousness. However it is God who determines how righteousness will come and anyone who tries to establish their own way of righteousness is essentially rejecting God's way of righteousness. Christ is the end (or conclusion) of the law. He is the one to whom the law was leading. Therefore righteousness can now come to everyone, Jew or Gentile who believes.   

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1 Corinthians 1:1-2:16   

This letter was written by Paul to believers living in Corinth. The city of Corinth did not have a good reputation. It was known for prostitution and other unsavory activities. This letter is not one of Paul's prison epistles. Paul was known by the Corinthians and he uses this letter to correct some serious problems within the local church. This was actually his second letter to them (he mentions a previous letter in 1 Cor. 5:9).

1:1-3 Paul greets them along with his coworker, Sosthenes; perhaps the same man we saw in Acts 18:17. He is clearly writing to believers, calling them "sanctified in Christ" and "called to be holy." He reminds them that they are part of the larger church.

v. 4-9 God has given them grace in Christ. In Him they have been "enriched in every way." The message Paul originally preached to them was confirmed by the fact that there is a church in Corinth. They have all the spiritual gifts they need and the Lord Himself will keep their faith strong until He returns. God is faithful.

v. 10-17 Paul wants them to agree with one another for there are divisions in this church. Some say they follow Paul, Apollos, Cephas (Peter), or Christ. But is Christ divided? No. Was Paul crucified for them? No. He merely preached the message to them. The power for salvation is only in the cross of Christ.

v. 18-24 Paul divides people into two groups: those who are perishing and those who are being saved.

v. 25 God's wisdom and human wisdom are not equal opposing forces. God's wisdom is immeasurably greater. What Paul is calling "the foolishness/weakness of God" is really the cross. He is not saying God is actually foolish/weak but that what some people regard as foolishness/weakness (the cross) is far greater than even the greatest human wisdom.  

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