1 Corinthians2
New Living Translation
1When I first came to you, dear brothers and sisters, I didn’t use lofty words and impressive wisdom to tell you God’s secret plan.
2For I decided that while I was with you I would forget everything except Jesus Christ, the one who was crucified.
3I came to you in weakness—timid and trembling.
4And my message and my preaching were very plain. Rather than using clever and persuasive speeches, I relied only on the power of the Holy Spirit.
5I did this so you would trust not in human wisdom but in the power of God.
6Yet when I am among mature believers, I do speak with words of wisdom, but not the kind of wisdom that belongs to this world or to the rulers of this world, who are soon forgotten.
7No, the wisdom we speak of is the mystery of God—his plan that was previously hidden, even though he made it for our ultimate glory before the world began.
8But the rulers of this world have not understood it; if they had, they would not have crucified our glorious Lord.
9That is what the Scriptures mean when they say, “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.”
10But it was to us that God revealed these things by his Spirit. For his Spirit searches out everything and shows us God’s deep secrets.
11No one can know a person’s thoughts except that person’s own spirit, and no one can know God’s thoughts except God’s own Spirit.
12And we have received God’s Spirit (not the world’s spirit), so we can know the wonderful things God has freely given us.
13When we tell you these things, we do not use words that come from human wisdom. Instead, we speak words given to us by the Spirit, using the Spirit’s words to explain spiritual truths.
14But people who aren’t spiritual can’t receive these truths from God’s Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them and they can’t understand it, for only those who are spiritual can understand what the Spirit means.
15Those who are spiritual can evaluate all things, but they themselves cannot be evaluated by others.
16For, “Who can know the Lord’s thoughts? Who knows enough to teach him?” But we understand these things, for we have the mind of Christ.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for 1 Corinthians 2.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: The plain manner in which the apostle preached Christ crucified. (1–5). The wisdom contained in this doctrine. (6–9). It cannot be duly known but by the Holy Spirit. (10–16).
vv1-5
Christ, in his person, and offices, and sufferings, is the sum and substance of the gospel, and ought to be the great subject of a gospel minister's preaching, but not so as to leave out other parts of God's revealed truth and will. Paul preached the whole counsel of God. Few know the fear and trembling of faithful ministers, from a deep sense of their own weakness They know how insufficient they are, and are fearful for themselves. When nothing but Christ crucified is plainly preached, the success must be entirely from Divine power accompanying the word, and thus men are brought to believe, to the salvation of their souls.
vv6-9
Those who receive the doctrine of Christ as Divine, and, having been enlightened by the Holy Spirit, have looked well into it, see not only the plain history of Christ, and him crucified, but the deep and admirable designs of Divine wisdom therein. It is the mystery made manifest to the saints, Col 1:26, though formerly hid from the heathen world; it was only shown in dark types and distant prophecies, but now is revealed and made known by the Spirit of God. Jesus Christ is the Lord of glory; a title much too great for any creature. There are many things which people would not do, if they knew the wisdom of God in the great work of redemption. There are things God hath prepared for those that love him, and wait for him, which sense cannot discover, no teaching can convey to our ears, nor can it yet enter our hearts. We must take them as they stand in the Scriptures, as God hath been pleased to reveal them to us.
vv10-16
God has revealed true wisdom to us by his Spirit. Here is a proof of the Divine authority of the Holy Scriptures, 2Pe 1:21. In proof of the Divinity of the Holy Ghost, observe, that he knows all things, and he searches all things, even the deep things of God. No one can know the things of God, but his Holy Spirit, who is one with the Father and the Son, and who makes known Divine mysteries to his church. This is most clear testimony, both to the real Godhead and the distinct person of the Holy Spirit. The apostles were not guided by worldly principles. They had the revelation of these things from the Spirit of God, and the saving impression of them from the same Spirit. These things they declared in plain, simple language, taught by the Holy Spirit, totally different from the affected oratory or enticing words of man's wisdom. The natural man, the wise man of the world, receives not the things of the Spirit of God. The pride of carnal reasoning is really as much opposed to spirituality, as the basest sensuality. The sanctified mind discerns the real beauties of holiness, but the power of discerning and judging about common and natural things is not lost. But the carnal man is a stranger to the principles, and pleasures, and actings of the Divine life. The spiritual man only, is the person to whom God gives the knowledge of his will. How little have any known of the mind of God by natural power! And the apostles were enabled by his Spirit to make known his mind. In the Holy Scriptures, the mind of Christ, and the mind of God in Christ, are fully made known to us. It is the great privilege of Christians, that they have the mind of Christ revealed to them by his Spirit. They experience his sanctifying power in their hearts, and bring forth good fruits in their lives.
Key Words
κἀγώ (kagṓ): so also the dative case , and accusative case and (or also, even, etc.) I, (to) me
ἔρχομαι (érchomai): to come or go (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)
πρός (prós): a preposition of direction; forward to, i.e. toward (with the genitive case, the side of, i.e. pertaining to; with the dative case, by the side of, i.e. near to; usually with the accusative case, the place, time, occasion, or respect, which is the destination of the relation, i.e. whither or for which it is predicated)
ὑμᾶς (hymâs): you (as the objective of a verb or preposition)
ἀδελφός (adelphós): a brother (literally or figuratively) near or remote (much like G1 (Α))
οὐ (ou): the absolute negative (compare G3361 (μή)) adverb; no or not
καταγγέλλω (katangéllō): to proclaim, promulgate
ὑμῖν (hymîn): to (with or by) you
μαρτύριον (martýrion): something evidential, i.e. (genitive case) evidence given or (specially), the Decalogue (in the sacred Tabernacle)
θεός (theós): figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very
Cross References
1 Corinthians 2Directly quoted by Paul here to show that God's prepared blessings are beyond natural human discovery.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB
Quoted to ground the rhetorical question: 'For who hath known the mind of the Lord?'
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB
Parallels the 'hidden wisdom' and 'mystery' of God ordained before the ages, now made manifest.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Paul reiterates his rejection of preaching with the 'wisdom of words' or 'excellency of speech.'
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB
Provides the historical context of Paul's first arrival and ministry in Corinth.
Supported by JFB
Illustrates Paul's attitude of service in 'fear and trembling' as anxious conscientiousness, not cowardice.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Points to Paul's physical presence and speech being described by critics as weak and contemptible.
Supported by JFB
Illuminates 'them that are perfect' (mature) who can digest strong meat, unlike carnal babes.
Supported by JFB
Reaffirms Paul's central subject of preaching as Christ crucified, a stumblingblock and foolishness to some.
Supported by JFB
Connects to the majestic title 'Lord of glory' applied to the crucified Jesus Christ.
Supported by JFB
Analogizes the human spirit searching inward depths to the Spirit of God searching divine things.
Supported by JFB
Explains why the natural (carnal) mind cannot receive or submit to the things of God.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Contrasts receiving the spirit of bondage and the world with the Spirit of adoption.
Supported by Matthew Henry