The reason for doing this is so that he can expose the sheer arrogance from those who are dividing the Church. The arrogance is cloaked with deception.
It is common for those that are farthest from God, to boast themselves most of their being near to the Church. Matthew Henry
“Do not deceive yourselves. If any of you think you are wise by the standards of this age, you should become “fools” so that you may become wise. 19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness” 20 and again, “The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile.” 21 So then, no more boasting about human leaders! All things are yours, 22 whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future—all are yours, 23 and you are of Christ, and Christ is of God.” (1 Corinthians 3 v 18-23)
Quote 1: “He catches the wise in their craftiness, and the schemes of the wily are swept away.” (Job 5:13) Paul is quoting the cheap words of Eliphaz. His listeners know the whole story. Eliphaz had been saying to Job that he has seen his suffering and knows the reasons why he is in so much trouble. There are reasons why he has lost his children and wealth. Eliphaz gives Job a theological study on those reasons. He also informs him this s not only himself who believes the reasons for his suffering but his friends do too.
Why do the arrogant always try to fit the solutions to the complexities of life into their own self-inflated experience which is far more limited and narrow than they know?
Using the words of Eliphaz Paul exposes this wisdom as foolishness because the friends of Job had not seen the purposes of God. They were wise in the world but Paul calls them deceived!
Quote 2: “The Lord knows all human plans; he knows that they are futile.” (Psalm 94:11) Paul is quoting the Psalm that everyone will know who is listening to Paul’s letter. Most probably the Psalmist was looking back on the 55 year reign of the worst king ever to come out of Judah, Manasseh. He didn’t intend to become corrupt, he wanted to do good but found that good could come from evil actions. Yet God never did honour him like he had hoped. A corrupt throne will never fellowship with God. Maybe you know of someone, perhaps a leader like Manasseh who truly believed that they were above the law, or the policy and procedures or just plain goodness because they were the leader or simply because they could and their world allowed for it. They managed to delude themselves into thinking they’re wrong behaviour was for the greater good. Power and popularity can intoxicate.
Using the words of the Psalmist Paul exposes the wisdom of the world which leaves a trail of broken people behind and in their arrogance begin to believe that their behaviour is acceptable to God even though it is foolish and will be punished.
Division is caused by the arrogant who are deceived and these 2 quotes that Paul uses are great examples of how it is seen.
Missions Paul 