SS Outline 12.7.2025

Practical Theology - apologetics
Christ, the Wisdom of God
1 Corinthians 1:18–25
Big Idea: There is no neutrality. All wisdom is found in Christ, who is the power and wisdom of God.

A. The World’s Wisdom vs. God’s Wisdom

• The cross looks like foolishness to the unbelieving world.
• God overturns human pride by saving through what seems weak.
• Paul: “We preach Christ crucified” (1 Cor 1:23).

B. No Neutral Ground

• Every worldview begins with presuppositions.
• The unbeliever pretends to stand on “neutral” reason, but Romans 1 says he suppresses the truth.
• Christians confess that all knowledge begins with “the fear of the LORD” (Prov 1:7).

C. Christ as Wisdom

• Christ is the Logos, the divine Reason (John 1:1).
• In Him are hidden all treasures of wisdom and knowledge (Col 2:3).
• Apologetics is not appealing to autonomous reason but pointing to Christ, the source of reason itself.

D. Reformed Distinctive

• Van Til: no neutrality, only covenant obedience or covenant rebellion.
• Apologetics = exposing unbelief as foolishness and pointing to Christ as wisdom.