1 Corinthians 2
2
1 When I came#tn Grk “and I, when I came.” Because of the difference between Greek style, which often begins sentences or clauses with “and,” and English style, which generally does not, κἀγώ (kagw) has not been translated here. to you, brothers and sisters,#tn Grk “brothers.” See note on the phrase “brothers and sisters” in 1:10. I did not come with superior eloquence or wisdom as I proclaimed the testimony#tc ‡ A few important mss (Ì46vid א* A C pc as well as some versions and fathers) read μυστήριον (musthrion, “mystery”) instead of μαρτύριον (marturion, “testimony”). But the latter has wider ms support (א2 B D F G Ψ 33 1739 1881 Ï and some versions), though not quite as impressive. μαρτύριον may have been changed by scribes in anticipation of Paul’s words in 2:7, or conversely, μυστήριον may have been changed to conform to 1:6. Transcriptionally, since “the mystery of God/Christ” is a well-worn expression in the corpus Paulinum (1 Cor 2:7; 4:1; Eph 3:4; Col 2:2; 4:3), while “testimony of Christ” occurs in Paul only once (1 Cor 1:6, though “testimony of the Lord” appears in 2 Tim 1:8), and “testimony of God” never, it is likely that scribes changed the text to the more usual expression. A decision is difficult in this instance, but a slight preference should be given to μαρτύριον. of God. 2 For I decided to be concerned about nothing#tn Grk “to know nothing.” among you except Jesus Christ, and him crucified. 3 And I was with you in weakness and in fear and with much trembling. 4 My conversation and my preaching were not with persuasive words of wisdom, but with a demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5 so that your faith would not be based on human wisdom but on the power of God.
Wisdom from God
6 Now we do speak wisdom among the mature,#tn In extrabiblical literature this word was applied to an initiate of a mystery religion (BDAG 995 s.v. τέλειος 3, gives numerous examples and states this was a technical term of the mystery religions). It could here refer to those who believed Paul’s message, the mystery of God (v. 1), and so be translated as “those who believe God’s message.” but not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are perishing. 7 Instead we speak the wisdom of God, hidden in a mystery, that God determined before the ages for our glory. 8 None of the rulers of this age understood it. If they had known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 9 But just as it is written, “Things that no eye has seen, or ear heard, or mind imagined,#tn Grk “entered the heart,” an OT expression, in which the heart functions like the mind. are the things God has prepared for those who love him.”#sn A quotation from Isa 64:4. 10 God has revealed these to us by the Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. 11 For who among men knows the things of a man except the man’s spirit within him? So too, no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things that are freely given to us by God. 13 And we speak about these things, not with words taught us by human wisdom, but with those taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual things to spiritual people.#tn Or “combining spiritual things with spiritual words” (i.e., words the Spirit gives, as just described). 14 The unbeliever#tn Grk “natural person.” Cf. BDAG 1100 s.v. ψυχικός a, “an unspiritual pers., one who merely functions bodily, without being touched by the Spirit of God.” does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him. And he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. 15 The one who is spiritual discerns#tn Or “evaluates.” all things, yet he himself is understood#tn Or “is evaluated” (i.e., “is subject to evaluation”); Grk “he himself is discerned,” that is, the person without the Spirit does not understand the person with the Spirit, particularly in relation to the life of faith. by no one. 16 For who has known the mind of the Lord, so as to advise him?#sn A quotation from Isa 40:13. But we have the mind of Christ.
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1 Corinthians 2
2
1Brothers and sisters, when I came to you I didn't try to impress you with wonderful words or great wisdom when I told you what God had to say to you. 2I decided that while I was with you I didn't want to concentrate on anything except Jesus Christ, and that he was crucified. 3I came to you in weakness, fearful and trembling. 4I didn't speak to you with persuasive words of wisdom to convince you. I just explained it all to you through the evidence and power of the Spirit. 5That way your trust in God wouldn't rely on human wisdom but on the power of God.
6However, we do use words of wisdom when we speak to those who are spiritually mature, but this isn't wisdom that comes from this world, or from the rulers of this world who soon fade from the scene. 7On the contrary we explain God's wisdom in terms of a revealed mystery#2:7. When the word mystery is used in the New Testament it is normally referring to a revealed mystery—particularly in reference to God becoming human in the person of Jesus Christ. that was previously hidden which God planned for our glory before the creation of the worlds.
8None of the rulers of this world understood anything about this—for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 9But as Scripture says, “No one has ever seen, and no one has ever heard, and no one has ever imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.”#2:9. From Isaiah 64 and Isaiah 65. 10But God has revealed this to us through the Spirit, because the Spirit delves into the depths of God. 11Who knows anyone's thoughts except the actual person?#2:11. Literally, “who among men knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man that is in him?” In the same way no one knows God's thoughts except the Spirit of God. 12For we have received the Spirit from God, not the spirit of this world, so that we could understand what God so generously gave us. 13That's what we speak about—not using words taught by human wisdom, but what the Spirit teaches. We explain what is spiritual using spiritual terms. 14Of course people who are not spiritual don't accept what comes from God's Spirit. It's just foolish nonsense to them, and they can't understand it, because what is spiritual has to be properly examined. 15People who are spiritual investigate everything, but are not placed under investigation themselves.#2:15. “Investigate/investigation”—the same word is used in the original, and can also mean to examine or to judge. It is also related to the word translated “examined” in verse 14. English does not capture the subtlety of the original. 16For “who understands the Lord's mind, and would think to instruct him?”#2:16. Quoting Isaiah 40:13. But we do have Christ's mind!
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Dr. Jonathan Gallagher. Released under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 Unported License. Version 4.3. For corrections send email to jonathangallagherfbv@gmail.com