1 Corinthians 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.
Common Questions About 1 Corinthians 2
How did Paul approach his preaching in Corinth according to chapter 2?
1 Corinthians 2:1-5 describes Paul deliberately avoiding lofty speech or persuasive wisdom, instead relying on a demonstration of the Spirit's power, so that the Corinthians' faith would rest on God's power rather than human wisdom.
What does this chapter say about the Spirit revealing God's wisdom?
1 Corinthians 2:9-13 describes things beyond what eye has seen or ear has heard, which God has prepared for those who love Him, revealed to believers through the Spirit, who searches even the depths of God.
Have a different question about this chapter? Ask the Bible Chat Bot below.
Questions to Think About
- Paul deliberately relied on the Spirit's power rather than impressive rhetoric to persuade the Corinthians. Where might you be relying too heavily on your own cleverness or persuasion rather than trusting God's power?
- This chapter describes spiritual truths as revealed by the Spirit rather than discovered through human wisdom alone. How do you personally seek the Spirit's guidance when trying to understand something spiritually significant?
Ask the Bible Chat Bot below if you'd like to talk through any of these.
