The Greeks boasted in their knowledge and sought after it heavily.  In verse one Paul starts with the fact that he doesn’t want them to “be unaware or ignorant, lacking in knowledge concerning the Spiritual gifts.  This opening line would tap into their love for knowledge and they would listen more intently. In the pagan culture that the Corinthians lived in, they had what is known as ecstatic speech.  They believed their “gods” enabled them to act and speak. 

Have you ever wondered why this imagery was used to describe the work the Spirit will have in our lives? The IVP Commentary sheds great insight into these metaphors. “The concept of a heart of stone would have had a couple of associations in the ancient world, mostly from Egypt. First of all, in Egyptian beliefs it was the heart that was weighed in judgment to determine whether or not the afterlife could be attained.