Bible Study 1 Corinthians 2: 1-16

 

Commentary of the Book of 1st Corinthians

By Dr. Barry L. Jenkins

Text Used: Legacy Standard Bible

Bible Study 1 Corinthians 2: 1-16

Text:

Paul’s Reliance upon the Spirit

2 And when I came to you, brothers, I did not come with superiority of word or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the [a]witness of God. 2 For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified. 3 And I was with you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling, 4 and my word and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5 so that your faith would not be in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.

6 Yet we do speak wisdom among those who are mature, a wisdom, however, not of this age nor of the rulers of this age, who are being abolished. 7 But we speak God’s wisdom in a mystery, the wisdom which has been hidden, which God predestined before the ages to our glory, 8 which none of the rulers of this age has understood; for if they had understood it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 9 But just as it is written,

“Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard,
And which have not entered the heart of man,
All that God has prepared for those who love Him.”

10 [b]But to us God revealed them through the Spirit, for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God. 11 For who among men knows the depths of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so the depths of God no one knows except the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the depths graciously given to us by God, 13 of which depths we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, [c]combining spiritual depths with spiritual words.

14 But [d]a natural man does not accept the depths of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually examined. 15 But he who is spiritual examines all things, yet he himself is examined by no one. 16 For who has known the mind of the [e]Lord, that he will direct Him? But we have the mind of Christ.

Verse by verse commentary:

Verse 1: “And when I came to you, brothers, I did not come with superiority of word or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the witness of God.”

Paul's preaching was distinct because he avoided the use of philosophical debate, ornate language, or oratorical styles. The "witness" he presented is essentially the "mystery" of God, meaning he did not rely on worldly wisdom to declare this truth. The term "mystery," as used here and elsewhere in the epistle, signifies something previously unrevealed. The mystery that Paul proclaimed was the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. While the Old Testament contained types and prophecies hinting at Christ's death, the actual, historical event of the crucifixion had not been disclosed until that time, making it a new revelation.

Verse 2: “For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.”

Paul taught the Corinthians the complete Word of God, but his primary focus when preaching to unbelievers was Jesus Christ and His atoning sacrifice on the cross for sin. Nothing else is relevant until a person grasps and accepts the gospel. The early church's emphasis on the cross was so strong that they were even accused of worshiping a deceased person.

Verse 3: “And I was with you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling,”

Paul arrived in Corinth in a state of physical weakness, following a series of difficult experiences: he had been beaten and jailed in Philippi, driven out of both Thessalonica and Berea, and ridiculed in Athens. Despite his weakness, however, his mission carried its greatest power. He avoided theatrics or manipulative techniques to sway the audience. His fear and trembling stemmed from the gravity of his mission.

Verse 4: “and my word and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power,”

Contemporary society is saturated with human wisdom, yet a significant portion of current preaching lacks the "demonstration of the Spirit and of power." There is a prevailing belief that the only requisite is the proper methodology, subject matter, or stylistic approach. There is a profound and urgent necessity for the power of the Holy Spirit to be evident in our proclamation.

Verse 5: “so that your faith would not be in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.”

Conversely, if human wisdom is employed to persuade an individual, their faith is established upon human wisdom. And if so, they can be persuaded by someone else that the gospel is not true if they have better skills in persuasive speech. However, if an individual is led to faith through the power of God, then their faith rests upon that foundation. This is the reason I seriously question a significant portion of current apologetic discourse—such as attempts to substantiate that the Bible is God’s Word, that the first chapter of Genesis is scientifically accurate, or that the Flood is a historical event. Please do not misunderstand; such endeavors have their proper place, and I am grateful for those who specialize in these fields. However, we must recognize that salvation does not hinge upon our ability to conclusively prove the inspiration of Scripture, although I firmly believe such proof is attainable. The pivotal question is: What is the basis of your faith? While apologetic preaching draws our attention to the Word of God, our faith must ultimately rest on the power of God having received a new heart through grace.

Verse 6: “Yet we do speak wisdom among those who are mature, a wisdom, however, not of this age nor of the rulers of this age, who are being abolished.”

The apostle's intention is not to designate an exclusive group of elite Christians, a concept that may have circulated among the Corinthians. The term used here is likely synonymous with "spiritual," indicating the guidance of the Holy Spirit. A mature or spiritual person is one who possesses the Holy Spirit. Because all genuine believers have received the Spirit, every believer is inherently spiritual and capable of grasping God's wisdom, which is the gospel of Jesus Christ. Therefore, to "speak wisdom" is to proclaim the gospel of Christ crucified.

Verse 7: “But we speak God’s wisdom in a mystery, the wisdom which has been hidden, which God predestined before the ages to our glory,”

The term "mystery" does not signify something puzzling, but rather a truth that God knew before the beginning of time and kept secret until the opportune moment for its revelation. This truth, referred to as "the wisdom of the gospel" in the New Testament, was established by God "to our glory." This means the core truth God revealed is His plan to save and glorify sinners.

Verse 8: “which none of the rulers of this age has understood; for if they had understood it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.”

The act of Christ's crucifixion stands as a stark and undeniable demonstration of the fundamental lack of true wisdom possessed by the governing authorities and, specifically, the Jewish religious leaders of that era. In their profound misunderstanding of Jesus's identity and mission, they saw a criminal, a threat to their established order, and a blasphemer, leading them to execute the very Son of God—an act that, from a divine perspective, was the ultimate folly and a testament to their earthly, carnal, and limited intellect. Their decision to crucify the Messiah was the zenith of worldly "wisdom" opposed to the wisdom of God, ultimately proving their spiritual blindness and inability to comprehend the divine plan unfolding before them.

Verse 9: “But just as it is written,

“Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard,
And which have not entered the heart of man,
All that God has prepared for those who love Him.”

In opposition to the "wisdom of men," who are incapable of comprehending the magnitude of divine salvation, believers who love God are able to understand and share in His blessings. This idea draws primarily from Isaiah 64:4, while also incorporating other concepts found throughout the Old Testament.

Verse 10: “But to us God revealed them through the Spirit, for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God.”

The Spirit of God can instruct us in truths that our senses—sight or hearing—cannot grasp. While studying the Bible allows us to learn historical or poetic aspects, it is insufficient for understanding spiritual truths. This is because "God revealed them through the Spirit," indicating that certain essential things can only be disclosed to us by the Spirit of God.

Verse 11: “For who among men knows the depths of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so the depths of God no one knows except the Spirit of God.”

The point of this verse is to offer a straightforward observation, not an in-depth psychological analysis of human personality. The term "spirit" generally denotes a person's immaterial aspect, particularly encompassing the mental capabilities.

Verse 12: “Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the depths graciously given to us by God,”

The profound truths concerning God and His plan for humanity are not accessible through mere human intellect or philosophical investigation. Instead, there are certain things—the deep, spiritual realities—that we can only truly understand if the Spirit of God reveals them to us. This divine revelation is not a grudging or selective act; rather, He does this freely and with immense generosity. The Holy Spirit's primary function in the life of a believer is to illuminate Scripture and unveil spiritual mysteries. He takes on the role of our personal, indispensable Tutor. He wants to be our Teacher! This willingness highlights God's desire for an intimate, informed relationship with His creation. It assures us that when we seek spiritual understanding, we are not left to our own limited capacity, but are guided by the very mind of God, who alone comprehends the secrets of the divine.

Verse 13: “of which depths we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual depths with spiritual words.”

The exact interpretation of this clause is debated. It is likely that Paul was criticized for his lack of human wisdom and eloquence. His response is that the truths revealed by the Spirit must be communicated in a manner consistent with the Spirit itself.

Verse 14: “But a natural man does not accept the depths of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually examined.”

The non-believer, or "natural man," cannot grasp the truths of God. Why is this so? Because these truths appear to be mere foolishness to them. If you are not a Christian, the message I am sharing will seem absurd to you. If it doesn't, then either you or I have a fundamental misunderstanding. The Bible clearly states that the natural mind considers the message of salvation through the cross of Christ to be irrational. It simply defies their logic.

Verse 15: “But he who is spiritual examines all things, yet he himself is examined by no one.”

Unbelievers can certainly spot the mistakes and weaknesses of Christians. However, they lack the capacity to judge the true, spiritual nature of those who have been transformed into God's children.

Verse 16: “For who has known the mind of the Lord, that he will direct Him? But we have the mind of Christ.”

Because Paul possesses the mind of Christ—which is the mind of the Lord—through the Holy Spirit, he is not subject to instruction or examination from his opponents. These opponents fail to recognize the unity of the Spirit of Christ and the Spirit of the Lord. Consequently, those who accept Paul's teachings are blessed by the Spirit and gain an understanding of God's truths.