1 Cor. 2:7 But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glory.
1 Cor. 2:8 None of the rulers of this age understood this, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
1 Cor. 2:9 But, as it is written, 'What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love Him'—
1 Cor. 2:10 these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God.
1 Cor. 2:11 For who knows a person's thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.
1 Cor. 2:12 Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God.
1 Cor. 2:13 And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.
1 Cor. 2:14 The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.
1 Cor. 2:15 The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one.
1 Cor. 2:16 'For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct Him?' But we have the mind of Christ."
1 Cor. 2:13 And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.
1 Cor. 2:14 The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.
1 Cor. 2:15 The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one.
1 Cor. 2:16 'For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct Him?' But we have the mind of Christ."
In my last post, I asserted that all you need to witness, is the Gospel - that Christ died and He rose again.
1 Cor. 2:1 "And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom."
This holds true. What happens sometimes, though, is that we never move on from this point.
1 Cor. 3:1 "But I, brothers, could not address you as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ.
1 Cor. 3:2 I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it. And even now you are not yet ready."
When we are first saved, we are infants in Christ. This faith has to be brought from infancy to adulthood.
In contrast to what I pointed out in my last post, we are supposed to give wisdom and knowledge to people, but to those that are already saved and growing.
I shall continue where I left off, at 1 Corinthians 2:6.
1 Cor. 2:6 "Yet among the mature we do impart wisdom, although it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to pass away."
The mature, those are those who are complete in Christ, those who have been saved, and already know the basics of the faith and understand the Gospel. This wisdom is Spiritual in nature, not earthly wisdom. God is not interested in us winning Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?; God is interested in us knowing about Him and who he is, Then show us how to live. This verse is repeating what He says in chapter one, verse nineteen:
1 Cor. 1:19 "For it is written, 'I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.'"
The wisdom of this age, and of those who deem themselves wise, He shall destroy. It shall not endure through eternity.
This wisdom is the same wisdom as Solomon talked about in Proverbs three:
Prov. 3:19 "The LORD by wisdom founded the earth; by understanding He established the heavens;
Prov. 3:20 by His knowledge the deeps broke open, and the clouds drop down the dew."
"We" refers to those who preach the Gospel. This same "mystery" or "secret" is talked about several times in the Gospels and in Paul's letters. For example:
Rom. 16:25 "Now to Him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages."
This Wisdom is the Gospel, His plan of salvation, and His plan to show His power and glory.
Conversely, this also brings us glory, and its purpose is to bring us glory. The glory we will receive is when we reach heaven, it is our salvation, and our reward for obeying Christ. This glory however, is still God's glory because it's nothing we did, but what He did. He was the One who supplied us with His glory; He is the one who created it.
1 Cor. 2:8 "None of the rulers of this age understood this, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory."
Those who crucified Christ did not understand the Gospel. Had they understood the Gospel, they would have believed in Christ and believed that He was the Savior of the world. They would have then had nothing to do with condemning Him to death in the physical sense, (although through their previous sin they already condemned Him).
This passage can be used both for our current lives, and also for our future lives. Life isn't going to be peachy in our current life because we are saved. However, we will be given things like joy and peace beyond anything we could have imagined if we had not been saved by Christ.
Rom. 14:17 "For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit."
As stated here, in Romans 14, part of the kingdom of God is peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. If we are in the Holy Spirit, we will have joy and peace; if we are not in the Holy Spirit, we will have unrest and not exhibit the Fruits of the Spirit. If we are not in the Spirit, how can He give us His fruit?
John 14:1 "Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in Me.
The Holy Spirit should be everything to the Christian. He is our guide; He is the one to whom God has given the responsibility to reveal His will to us. The Spirit knows more about you, than you do; He knows more about God than all the angels and people combined, because He is God. This verse refers to the previous verse in the context of our being able to know some of what God has in store for us through the Holy Spirit.
1 Cor. 2:11 "For who knows a person's thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God."
We know our thoughts, because our Spirit, the Holy Spirit knows God, because He is the Spirit within God. We cannot understand all of God's thoughts, the Holy Spirit does, and therefore reveals some of His thoughts to us. However, we can't comprehend God or His thoughts. If we could, we would be God. Hence, we have to have the Holy Spirit reveal to us what we can comprehend of God.
1 Cor. 2:12 "Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God."
The spirit of this world is referring back to the wisdom of this world, the Holy Spirit doesn't give us that kind of wisdom, but He gives us Wisdom of God, Wisdom from God, and Wisdom in God. The Holy Spirit gives us understanding of God and His hidden wisdom.
1 Cor. 2:13 "And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual."
This is a very similar to the latter part of verse six: "although it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to pass away."
This verse finishes Verse 6, because it talks about what this wisdom actually is. Not a human wisdom, but one that is from the Holy Spirit, and one that is about God. The Holy Spirit interprets the Bible for us, if we interpret it without the Holy Spirit, we will not have the truth.
1 Cor. 2:14 "The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned."
Just because you are wise according to worldly standards, does not mean that you are wise in godly wisdom. In fact, if you are not in the Holy Spirit, you will not understand spiritual truths. Because you don't understand them, they will seem foolish to you. Moreover, if you are wise in worldly wisdom, you will have less of a reason to follow Christ and to lean on the wisdom of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, it is much easier for those who are not wise (considered foolish)to become Christians. The reason for this is shown in these verses:
1 Cor. 1:26 "For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth.
1 Cor. 1:27 But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong;
1 Cor. 1:28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are,
1 Cor. 1:29 so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.
1 Cor. 1:30 And because of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption,
1 Cor. 1:31 so that, as it is written, 'Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.'"
If you are not already considered wise, smart, or noble, there is nothing for you to boast about if you are saved, except in who gave you wisdom and salvation.
1 Cor. 2:15 "The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one."
Those in whom the Holy Spirit lives, are to "judge" or discern all things in the world. He will be able to discern many spiritual things because the Holy Spirit reveals it to him. However, those who are in the world, because they do not understand the wisdom of God, and do not have the Holy Spirit they are unable to judge a Christian because they lack discernment given by the Holy Spirit.
1 Cor. 2:16 "'For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?' But we have the mind of Christ."
Paul asks an interesting rhetorical question, here. He asks who has understood the mind of the Lord. The obvious answer is no one (except the Holy Spirit who is part of the Godhead). He then goes on to make an interesting statement: "we have the mind of Christ." Did not Paul just finish saying that only the Holy Spirit understood the mind of God? Does it actually make sense that he would then come out and say we have the mind of Christ? The answer is yes; it does make sense. We don't understand it because it is above us, however the Holy Spirit is in us, and has the mind of Christ, and therefore we always have access, through the Holy Spirit, to the mind of Christ. The Spirit will then help us to understand the truths and thoughts contained within it.
Wisdom; there are two kinds. The first is earthly wisdom. This wisdom is of man; it is fleeting, it doesn't last into eternity. The rulers, and those considered wise are the people that have this wisdom, and since they will not last into eternity, neither will their wisdom. The second wisdom is of God, from God, and in God. It lasts into eternity because God is eternal. By those considered wise, it is foolish, by those considered foolish, it is considered wise. The Holy Spirit reveals to us the true, eternal wisdom. The Holy Spirit is in God, the Holy Spirit searches God, and brings to us His wisdom, which is why we always have access to the mind of Christ. Moreover, the Holy Spirit gives us wisdom, which then gives us judgement and discernment. This is unattainable for those who do not have the Spirit in them. The purpose of this passage is to dispel the myth that we should never seek the deep things, and to clarify that the deep things are of God, and are only revealed through His Spirit.
1 Cor. 2:6 "Yet among the mature we do impart wisdom, although it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to pass away."
The mature, those are those who are complete in Christ, those who have been saved, and already know the basics of the faith and understand the Gospel. This wisdom is Spiritual in nature, not earthly wisdom. God is not interested in us winning Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?; God is interested in us knowing about Him and who he is, Then show us how to live. This verse is repeating what He says in chapter one, verse nineteen:
1 Cor. 1:19 "For it is written, 'I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.'"
The wisdom of this age, and of those who deem themselves wise, He shall destroy. It shall not endure through eternity.
This wisdom is the same wisdom as Solomon talked about in Proverbs three:
Prov. 3:19 "The LORD by wisdom founded the earth; by understanding He established the heavens;
Prov. 3:20 by His knowledge the deeps broke open, and the clouds drop down the dew."
This wisdom is God's power. This wisdom is His actions. This wisdom is His plans, and His wisdom shows who He is.
1 Cor. 2:7 "But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glory."
"We" refers to those who preach the Gospel. This same "mystery" or "secret" is talked about several times in the Gospels and in Paul's letters. For example:
Rom. 16:25 "Now to Him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages."
Eph 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,
Eph. 1:8 "which He lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight
Eph. 1:9 making known to us the mystery of His will, according to His purpose, which He set forth in Christ
Eph. 1:10 as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in Him, things in heaven and things on earth."
This Wisdom is the Gospel, His plan of salvation, and His plan to show His power and glory.
Conversely, this also brings us glory, and its purpose is to bring us glory. The glory we will receive is when we reach heaven, it is our salvation, and our reward for obeying Christ. This glory however, is still God's glory because it's nothing we did, but what He did. He was the One who supplied us with His glory; He is the one who created it.
1 Cor. 2:8 "None of the rulers of this age understood this, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory."
Those who crucified Christ did not understand the Gospel. Had they understood the Gospel, they would have believed in Christ and believed that He was the Savior of the world. They would have then had nothing to do with condemning Him to death in the physical sense, (although through their previous sin they already condemned Him).
1 Cor. 2:9 "But, as it is written, 'What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him'—"
This passage can be used both for our current lives, and also for our future lives. Life isn't going to be peachy in our current life because we are saved. However, we will be given things like joy and peace beyond anything we could have imagined if we had not been saved by Christ.
Rom. 14:17 "For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit."
As stated here, in Romans 14, part of the kingdom of God is peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. If we are in the Holy Spirit, we will have joy and peace; if we are not in the Holy Spirit, we will have unrest and not exhibit the Fruits of the Spirit. If we are not in the Spirit, how can He give us His fruit?
The second part of this verse is talking about future glory in heaven. This can be read about in Revelation twenty-one and twenty-two. Also, Christ talks about it in John 14:
John 14:1 "Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in Me.
John 14:2 In My Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?
John 14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to Myself, that where I am you may be also."
1 Cor. 2:10 "these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God."
The Holy Spirit should be everything to the Christian. He is our guide; He is the one to whom God has given the responsibility to reveal His will to us. The Spirit knows more about you, than you do; He knows more about God than all the angels and people combined, because He is God. This verse refers to the previous verse in the context of our being able to know some of what God has in store for us through the Holy Spirit.
1 Cor. 2:11 "For who knows a person's thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God."
We know our thoughts, because our Spirit, the Holy Spirit knows God, because He is the Spirit within God. We cannot understand all of God's thoughts, the Holy Spirit does, and therefore reveals some of His thoughts to us. However, we can't comprehend God or His thoughts. If we could, we would be God. Hence, we have to have the Holy Spirit reveal to us what we can comprehend of God.
1 Cor. 2:12 "Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God."
The spirit of this world is referring back to the wisdom of this world, the Holy Spirit doesn't give us that kind of wisdom, but He gives us Wisdom of God, Wisdom from God, and Wisdom in God. The Holy Spirit gives us understanding of God and His hidden wisdom.
1 Cor. 2:13 "And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual."
This is a very similar to the latter part of verse six: "although it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to pass away."
This verse finishes Verse 6, because it talks about what this wisdom actually is. Not a human wisdom, but one that is from the Holy Spirit, and one that is about God. The Holy Spirit interprets the Bible for us, if we interpret it without the Holy Spirit, we will not have the truth.
1 Cor. 2:14 "The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned."
Just because you are wise according to worldly standards, does not mean that you are wise in godly wisdom. In fact, if you are not in the Holy Spirit, you will not understand spiritual truths. Because you don't understand them, they will seem foolish to you. Moreover, if you are wise in worldly wisdom, you will have less of a reason to follow Christ and to lean on the wisdom of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, it is much easier for those who are not wise (considered foolish)to become Christians. The reason for this is shown in these verses:
1 Cor. 1:26 "For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth.
1 Cor. 1:27 But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong;
1 Cor. 1:28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are,
1 Cor. 1:29 so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.
1 Cor. 1:30 And because of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption,
1 Cor. 1:31 so that, as it is written, 'Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.'"
If you are not already considered wise, smart, or noble, there is nothing for you to boast about if you are saved, except in who gave you wisdom and salvation.
1 Cor. 2:15 "The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one."
Those in whom the Holy Spirit lives, are to "judge" or discern all things in the world. He will be able to discern many spiritual things because the Holy Spirit reveals it to him. However, those who are in the world, because they do not understand the wisdom of God, and do not have the Holy Spirit they are unable to judge a Christian because they lack discernment given by the Holy Spirit.
1 Cor. 2:16 "'For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?' But we have the mind of Christ."
Paul asks an interesting rhetorical question, here. He asks who has understood the mind of the Lord. The obvious answer is no one (except the Holy Spirit who is part of the Godhead). He then goes on to make an interesting statement: "we have the mind of Christ." Did not Paul just finish saying that only the Holy Spirit understood the mind of God? Does it actually make sense that he would then come out and say we have the mind of Christ? The answer is yes; it does make sense. We don't understand it because it is above us, however the Holy Spirit is in us, and has the mind of Christ, and therefore we always have access, through the Holy Spirit, to the mind of Christ. The Spirit will then help us to understand the truths and thoughts contained within it.
Wisdom; there are two kinds. The first is earthly wisdom. This wisdom is of man; it is fleeting, it doesn't last into eternity. The rulers, and those considered wise are the people that have this wisdom, and since they will not last into eternity, neither will their wisdom. The second wisdom is of God, from God, and in God. It lasts into eternity because God is eternal. By those considered wise, it is foolish, by those considered foolish, it is considered wise. The Holy Spirit reveals to us the true, eternal wisdom. The Holy Spirit is in God, the Holy Spirit searches God, and brings to us His wisdom, which is why we always have access to the mind of Christ. Moreover, the Holy Spirit gives us wisdom, which then gives us judgement and discernment. This is unattainable for those who do not have the Spirit in them. The purpose of this passage is to dispel the myth that we should never seek the deep things, and to clarify that the deep things are of God, and are only revealed through His Spirit.
