1 Corinthians 2
2
Paul’s Reliance upon the Spirit
1And when I came to you, brothers and sisters, proclaiming to you the #2:1 One early ms reads mystery.testimony of God [concerning salvation through Christ], I did not come with superiority of speech or of wisdom [no lofty words of eloquence or of philosophy as a Greek orator might do]; 2for I made the decision to #2:2 In reality, Paul was a highly-trained student of the Old Testament writings, Jewish law, and of logic and rhetoric; and evidently he was conversant in Roman law as well. When preaching the gospel, however, he focused on the message itself and the power of God, and not on rhetorical techniques of persuasion (see vv 4, 5; cf 1:17).know nothing [that is, to forego philosophical or theological discussions regarding inconsequential things and opinions while] among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified [and the meaning of His redemptive, substitutionary death and His resurrection]. 3I came to you in [a state of] weakness and fear and great trembling. 4And my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom [using clever rhetoric], but [they were delivered] in demonstration of the [Holy] Spirit [operating through me] and of [His] power [stirring the minds of the listeners and persuading them], 5so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom and rhetoric of men, but on the power of God.
6Yet we do speak wisdom among those spiritually mature [believers who have teachable hearts and a greater understanding]; but [it is a higher] wisdom not [the wisdom] of this present age nor of the rulers and leaders of this age, who are passing away; 7but we speak God’s wisdom in a mystery, the wisdom once hidden [from man, but now revealed to us by God, that wisdom] which God predestined before the ages to our glory [to lift us into the glory of His presence]. 8None of the rulers of this age recognized and understood this wisdom; for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory; 9but just as it is written [in Scripture],
“Things which the eye has not seen and the ear has not heard,
And which have not entered the heart of man,
All that God has prepared for those who love Him [who hold Him in affectionate reverence, who obey Him, and who gratefully recognize the benefits that He has bestowed].” [Is 64:4; 65:17]
10For God has unveiled them and revealed them to us through the [Holy] Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things [diligently], even [sounding and measuring] the [profound] depths of God [the divine counsels and things far beyond human understanding]. 11For what person knows the thoughts and motives of a man except the man’s spirit within him? So also no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 12Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the [Holy] Spirit who is from God, so that we may know and understand the [wonderful] things freely given to us by God. 13We also speak of these things, not in words taught or supplied by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining and interpreting spiritual thoughts with spiritual words [for those being guided by the Holy Spirit].
14But the natural [unbelieving] man does not accept the things [the teachings and revelations] of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness [absurd and illogical] to him; and he is incapable of understanding them, because they are spiritually discerned and appreciated, [and he is unqualified to judge spiritual matters]. 15But the spiritual man [the spiritually mature Christian] judges all things [questions, examines and applies what the Holy Spirit reveals], yet is himself judged by no one [the unbeliever cannot judge and understand the believer’s spiritual nature]. 16For who has known the mind and purposes of the Lord, so as to instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ [to be guided by His thoughts and purposes]. [Is 40:13]
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1 Corinthians 2
2
Proclaiming Christ Crucified
1And I, when I came to you, brothers,#2:1 Or brothers and sisters #ver. 4, 13; [2 Cor. 1:12]; See ch. 1:17 did not come proclaiming to you #See Rom. 16:25the testimony#2:1 Some manuscripts mystery (or secret) of God with lofty speech or wisdom. 2For I decided to know nothing among you except #Gal. 6:14Jesus Christ and him crucified. 3And #Acts 18:1, 6, 12 I was with you #2 Cor. 11:30; 12:5, 9; 13:4, 9; Gal. 4:13in weakness and in fear and much trembling, 4and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of #ch. 4:20; Rom. 15:13, 19; 1 Thess. 1:5; 2 Pet. 1:16the Spirit and of power, 5so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men#2:5 The Greek word anthropoi can refer to both men and women but #2 Cor. 4:7; 6:7; [Zech. 4:6; 2 Cor. 10:4; 12:9]in the power of God.
Wisdom from the Spirit
6Yet among #Phil. 3:15; [ch. 3:1] the mature we do impart wisdom, although it is not #[James 3:15] a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, #ch. 1:28who are doomed to pass away. 7But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, #Rom. 16:25, 26; Eph. 3:5, 9; Col. 1:26; 2 Tim. 1:9which God decreed before the ages for our glory. 8None of #Acts 13:27; See Luke 24:20 the rulers of this age understood this, for #See Acts 3:17 if they had, they would not have crucified #James 2:1; [Ps. 24:7-10; Acts 7:2]the Lord of glory. 9But, as it is written,
# [Isa. 64:4] “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard,
nor the heart of man imagined,
what God has #See Matt. 25:34 prepared #James 1:12for those who love him”—
10these things #Matt. 16:17; Gal. 1:12, 16; Eph. 3:3, 5; See John 14:26 God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even #[Rev. 2:24]the depths of God. 11For who knows a person’s thoughts #Prov. 20:27except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 12Now #Rom. 8:15 we have received not #[1 John 4:4]the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. 13And we impart this #ver. 1, 4; See ch. 1:17 in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, #2 Cor. 10:12interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.#2:13 Or interpreting spiritual truths in spiritual language, or comparing spiritual things with spiritual
14The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are #ch. 1:18 folly to him, and #Rom. 8:7he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. 15The #ch. 3:1; 14:37; Gal. 6:1; [Prov. 28:5]spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one. 16#Cited from Isa. 40:13; See Rom. 11:34 “For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But #[John 15:15]we have the mind of Christ.
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