1 Corinthians
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1 Corinthians 2
1 Corinthians 2
1And I, brethren, when I came unto you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God.
2For I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.
3And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.
1And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God.
2For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.
3And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.
Commentary · verses 1-3
4And my speech and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:
4And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:
Commentary · verse 4
Paul's speech was with words, however he preached the Gospel by God's wisdom (grace through the Holy Spirit) and not man's wisdom.
5that your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.
5That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.
Commentary · verse 5
Paul wanted their faith to be in words and actions (the power of God) and not in man's wisdom, not according to words of the flesh.
6We speak wisdom, however, among them that are fullgrown: yet a wisdom not of this world, nor of the rulers of this world, who are coming to nought: 7but we speak God’s wisdom in a mystery, even the wisdom that hath been hidden, which God foreordained before the worlds unto our glory: 8which none of the rulers of this world hath known: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory:
6Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought:
7But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:
8Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
Commentary · verses 6-8
Premise: Believers speak the wisdom of God in a mystery which the princes of this world (unbelievers) have not known.
Reason: if they did know God's wisdom they would not have crucified Christ. Whether or not you understand the mysteries of God's wisdom is dependent on if you are a believer or not, a choice that is yours alone.
9but as it is written, Things which eye saw not, and ear heard not, And which entered not into the heart of man, Whatsoever things God prepared for them that love him.
9But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
Commentary · verse 9
Paul referenced Isaiah 64:4 to show that God intentionally approached man in a manner opposite to his flesh. Notice, if you choose to love God instead of the flesh, then you are choosing to understand God. God did not foreordain who would choose to love Him. God did foreordain the process for finding out who would choose to love Him.
Doctrines on this passage
10But unto us God revealed them through the Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
11For who among men knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of the man, which is in him? even so the things of God none knoweth, save the Spirit of God.
10But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
11For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.
Commentary · verses 10-11
We can get God's wisdom revealed to us only through the Holy Spirit, only once we choose to believe. Our recognition that we are flawed and fleshly ought to lead to us humbling ourselves: willing to consider our beliefs and methods are wrong. Once we humble ourselves and accept the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, we can then receive the wisdom of God.
Doctrines on this passage
12But we received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is from God; that we might know the things that were freely given to us of God.
13Which things also we speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Spirit teacheth; combining spiritual things with spiritual words.
12Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
13Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
Commentary · verses 12-13
We have received the Spirit of God that we might know all things. Notice, we end up having spiritual things (actions) with spiritual words.
14Now the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him; and he cannot know them, because they are spiritually judged.
14But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
Commentary · verse 14
Paul proved his premise from chapter 1: The natural man sees the things of the Spirit of God as foolishness because the things and words of the Spirit are wisdom to those who choose to walk in the Spirit and not according to the flesh. For example, the natural man desires comfort; God desires growth.
15But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, and he himself is judged of no man.
16For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he should instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.
15But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.
16For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.
Commentary · verses 15-16
Verse 16 was in two parts. The first part showed that none of us knows the mind of Jesus Christ well enough that we are able to teach Him. All this meant was that we will never be wiser than Jesus. However, some can try to interpret this verse as "We'll never know anything, so why try?"
The second part ought to prevent this fleshly comparative thinking by realizing: We have the mind of Christ. Verse 16 showed us that we can have God's wisdom, but we will never have more wisdom than Jesus Christ.
Commentary · verse 16
Theme of Chapter 2: Paul furthered his premise from the first chapter by giving more resolution between the physical things of the world that the flesh values and the spiritual things from God that mature Christians value.
Doctrines on this passage
Paul went to the church of Corinth humble and lacking everything the world would value.