Ep 257: The Rulers Of This Age Are Passing Away | 1 Corinthians 2:6-8

In this episode I discuss Paul’s statement in 1 Corinthians 2:6-8 that “the rulers of this age…are passing away”. I explain how the Corinthians were Paul’s problem church and that the believers in Corinth were compromising with worldly values and causing divisions in the church. Paul seeks to challenge their pagan values and warn them of the dangers of disunity. Paul operates within a framework of inaugurated eschatology, where the death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus the Davidic Messiah has ushered in the end of history. Paul also unambiguously hails Jesus as Messiah, calling him ‘the Lord Jesus Christ’ at several points in the opening verses. The rulers of this age, like the divisive and worldly Corinthians, failed to understand the wisdom of a crucified Messiah and are, as a result of the inaugurated eschaton, currently in the process of passing away into obscurity. The church, God’s temple through faith and the Spirit, must not place their hope in these temporal rulers whose time is nearly up. Paul’s christology, ecclesiology, and eschatology challenges the church to be the church and rise above the rulers of this age who are passing away. 

Additional Resources

James Ware on 1 Corinthians 15: https://libertarianchristians.com/episode/ep-192-1-corinthians-15-and-the-resurrection-of-jesus-with-james-ware/

Ephesians 1: https://libertarianchristians.com/episode/ep-248-far-above-all-rule-and-authority-ephesians-115-23/

Philippians 2: https://libertarianchristians.com/episode/ep-255-philippians-25-11-and-christology-politics-and-ethics/