1 Corinthians
Chapter 2
Superior Wisdom
When I came to reveal to you the mystery of God’s plan, I did not rely on eloquence or a display of learning.
I was determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and him crucified.
I, myself, came weak, fearful, and trembling;
my words and preaching were not impressive or clever enough to win listeners. It was more a demonstration of spirit and power,
so that your faith might depend not on human wisdom, but on God’s power.
In fact, we do speak of wisdom to those who are mature in faith, although it is not the wisdom of this world or its rulers, who are destined to perish.
We teach the mystery and secret plan of divine wisdom, which God has designed from the beginning to bring us to glory.
No ruler of this world ever understood this; otherwise, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
But as scripture says: Eye has not seen, ear has not heard, nor has it entered into the mind of man what God has prepared for those who love him.
Revealed by the Spirit
God has revealed it to us through his Spirit because the Spirit probes everything, even the depths of God.
Who, but his own spirit, knows the secrets of a person? Likewise, no one but the Spirit of God knows the secrets of God.
We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who comes from God and, through him, we understand what God, in his goodness, has given us.
So we discuss this not using human wisdom as our guide, but in a language taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual wisdom to those who are spiritual.
The unspiritual person does not understand the things of the Spirit, for to him it is foolishness; and he does not understand because they require a spiritual experience.
But the spiritual person can judge everything, yet no one judges him.
For who has known the mind of the Lord so as to counsel him? But we have the mind of Christ.
Commentaries
Superior Wisdom.
Paul has a nearly obsessive focus: God’s free choice of the Corinthians. He repeats his point, emphasizing how he presented himself to them without prestige or persuasive human wisdom, but as weak and trembling with fear. His knowledge and credentials were only Jesus, and Jesus crucified.
Revealed by the Spirit.
Paul continues to explore the topic with a comparison: no one truly knows another person deeply unless that person chooses to reveal their own inner life. A person’s secret intimacy is known only to themselves (cf. Prov 14:10; 20:27), and only they can communicate it. For this to happen, there must be harmony between the person who opens their inner doors and the one invited in to share this human mystery. Similarly, Paul states, only the Spirit knows God’s inner life, and it is up to Him to reveal and unfold it. As an intermediary, Paul must promptly communicate what he has received through revelation. Paul repeatedly emphasizes the vital role of the Spirit of Christ in revealing God’s mystery.