1 Corinthians

Chapter 2

1

And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God.

2

For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.

3

And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.

4

And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:

5

That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.

6

Howbeit 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:

7

But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:

8

Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

9

But 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.

10

But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.

11

For 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.

12

Now 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.

13

Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

14

But 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.

15

But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.

16

For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.

Summary

Paul declares that when he came to the brethren, he came not with excellency of speech or wisdom, but determined to know only Jesus Christ crucified, speaking in weakness, fear, and trembling, not with enticing words of man's wisdom but in demonstration of the Spirit and power, that their faith should stand in the power of God. He states they speak wisdom among them that are perfect, not the wisdom of this world or its princes that come to nought, but the wisdom of God in a mystery, hidden wisdom ordained before the world unto their glory, which the princes knew not or they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. Paul quotes that eye hath not seen nor ear heard the things God hath prepared for them that love him, but God hath revealed them by his Spirit which searcheth all things including the deep things of God. As the spirit of man knows the things of a man, so the Spirit of God knows the things of God. They have received not the spirit of the world but the spirit which is of God, that they might know the things freely given to them of God, speaking not in words of man's wisdom but which the Holy Ghost teacheth, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 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 discerned, but he that is spiritual judgeth all things yet is judged of no man. Paul asks who hath known the mind of the Lord to instruct him, and declares they have the mind of Christ.

Main Subjects

  • excellency of speech
  • wisdom
  • testimony of God
  • Jesus Christ, and him crucified
  • weakness
  • fear
  • trembling
  • speech
  • preaching
  • enticing words of man's wisdom
  • demonstration of the Spirit and of power
  • faith
  • wisdom of men
  • power of God
  • them that are perfect
  • wisdom of this world
  • princes of this world
  • wisdom of God in a mystery
  • hidden wisdom
  • Lord of glory
  • things which God hath prepared
  • them that love him
  • Spirit
  • deep things of God
  • spirit of man
  • things of a man
  • things of God
  • Spirit of God
  • spirit of the world
  • spirit which is of God
  • things that are freely given to us of God
  • Holy Ghost
  • spiritual things
  • natural man
  • things of the Spirit of God
  • he that is spiritual
  • mind of the Lord
  • mind of Christ