6Yet we do speak wisdom among the fully developed — not, however, wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age who are being brought to nothing. [2:7] But we speak God's wisdom in a previously hidden mystery, which God predetermined before the ages for our glory, [2:8] which none of the rulers of this age knew — for if they had known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. [2:9] But as it is written: "What eye has not seen, and ear has not heard, and has not ascended into a human heart — what God has prepared for those who love him." [2:10] But God has revealed it to us through the Spirit, for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God. [2:11] For who among men knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man that is in him? So also no one has known the things of God except the Spirit of God. [2:12] Now we have received not the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God. [2:13] These things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in words taught by the Spirit — interpreting spiritual things by spiritual means. [2:14] But the person governed by earthly life does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he is not able to know them because they are spiritually discerned. [2:15] But the spiritual person discerns all things, yet is himself discerned by no one. [2:16] For who has known the mind of the Lord, who will instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.
1CO 2:6-16
Spiritual Wisdom
In the world it was spoken into
In 1st-century Corinth, a bustling Roman colony with a mix of Greco-Roman and Jewish influences, the concept of wisdom was deeply embedded in cultural and philosophical discourse. Stoic and Epicurean schools debated the nature of wisdom, often associating it with intellectual or moral perfection. Jewish thought, particularly in apocalyptic literature, framed wisdom as divine revelation accessible only to the righteous. Paul’s use of (mature) evokes the language of mystery cults, where initiates were deemed after undergoing rites of revelation. The term (mystery) would resonate with Corinthian audiences familiar with religious secrets reserved for the initiated. Paul contrasts this divine wisdom with the wisdom of the rulers of this age, likely referencing both Roman authorities and spiritual powers. The assertion that such rulers crucified the Lord of glory underscores the inversion of worldly power structures. The phrase 'what eye has not seen' echoes Jewish apocalyptic traditions, emphasizing that divine wisdom transcends human comprehension and is revealed only through the Spirit.
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How other translations render this
1CO 2:6
- KJV
- 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:
- BSB
- Among the mature, however, we speak a message of wisdom—but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing.
- Koinōnos
- Yet we do speak wisdom among the fully developed — not, however, wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age who are being brought to nothing.
1CO 2:7
- KJV
- But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:
- BSB
- No, we speak of the mysterious and hidden wisdom of God, which He destined for our glory before time began.
- Koinōnos
- But we speak God's wisdom in a previously hidden mystery, which God predetermined before the ages for our glory,
1CO 2:8
- KJV
- Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
- BSB
- None of the rulers of this age understood it. For if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
- Koinōnos
- which none of the rulers of this age knew — for if they had known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
1CO 2:9
- KJV
- 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.
- BSB
- Rather, as it is written: “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no heart has imagined, what God has prepared for those who love Him.”
- Koinōnos
- But as it is written: "What eye has not seen, and ear has not heard, and has not ascended into a human heart — what God has prepared for those who love him.
1CO 2:10
- KJV
- But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
- BSB
- But God has revealed it to us by the Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.
- Koinōnos
- But God has revealed it to us through the Spirit, for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God.
1CO 2:11
- KJV
- 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.
- BSB
- For who among men knows the thoughts of man except his own spirit within him? So too, no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.
- Koinōnos
- For who among men knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man that is in him? So also no one has known the things of God except the Spirit of God.
1CO 2:12
- KJV
- 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.
- BSB
- We have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us.
- Koinōnos
- Now we have received not the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God.
1CO 2:13
- KJV
- 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.
- BSB
- And this is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom, but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words.
- Koinōnos
- These things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in words taught by the Spirit — interpreting spiritual things by spiritual means.
1CO 2:14
- KJV
- 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.
- BSB
- The natural man does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God. For they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.
- Koinōnos
- But the person governed by earthly life does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he is not able to know them because they are spiritually discerned.
1CO 2:15
- KJV
- But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.
- BSB
- The spiritual man judges all things, but he himself is not subject to anyoneʼs judgment.
- Koinōnos
- But the spiritual person discerns all things, yet is himself discerned by no one.
1CO 2:16
- KJV
- For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.
- BSB
- “For who has known the mind of the Lord, so as to instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ.
- Koinōnos
- For who has known the mind of the Lord, who will instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.
Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.
Translator's notes
1CO 2:6
- mature,:The word translated 'mature' here refers to those who are fully developed or complete, often implying a state of perfection or full functionality, not merely having reached adulthood.
1CO 2:7
- a mystery:The term 'mystery' in this context refers to something previously hidden or unknown, but now revealed, rather than something inherently unknowable or puzzling.
1CO 2:13
- spiritual things:The phrase translated 'spiritual things' comes from a word that means to combine or interpret, suggesting the act of discerning or explaining spiritual matters by spiritual means.
1CO 2:14
- [The] natural:The word translated '[The] natural' describes someone governed by their physical and earthly life, often in contrast to being led by the Spirit.