1 Corinthians 2

General context

Paul describes his arrival: he came "not with excellency of speech or of wisdom", determined "not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified", and was with them "in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling". His speech was not with "enticing words of man’s wisdom" but "in demonstration of the Spirit and of power", so that their faith would stand in God's power rather than in the wisdom of men. A wisdom is nevertheless spoken "among them that are perfect", not the wisdom of this world "nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought", but "the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom", which God ordained before the world. None of the princes of this world knew it, "for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory". A written line follows about what eye has not seen nor ear heard. God has revealed these things by his Spirit, "for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God", and the argument runs by comparison: as only a man's own spirit knows his things, so "the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God". They received "the spirit which is of God" in order to know what is freely given, and speak in words "which the Holy Ghost teacheth". The natural man does not receive them, "for they are foolishness unto him", because they are spiritually discerned, while the spiritual man "judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man". The chapter closes with a question from scripture and a flat claim.

Cited passages: 1 Corinthians 2:1, 1 Corinthians 2:2, 1 Corinthians 2:3, 1 Corinthians 2:4, 1 Corinthians 2:5, 1 Corinthians 2:6, 1 Corinthians 2:7, 1 Corinthians 2:8, 1 Corinthians 2:9, 1 Corinthians 2:10, 1 Corinthians 2:11, 1 Corinthians 2:12, 1 Corinthians 2:13, 1 Corinthians 2:14, 1 Corinthians 2:15, 1 Corinthians 2:16

1 Corinthians 2 (KJV)

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Historical context

The chapter reports the writer's own arrival and manner but supplies no date, no length of stay, no meeting place and no content of his preaching beyond its subject. "the princes of this world" are never identified, and the chapter says only that they would not have crucified the Lord of glory had they known. The quotation at verse 9, introduced "as it is written", does not match a single verse word for word; Isaiah 64:4 reads "neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside thee, what he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him", while the letter has eye, ear and heart together and ends "for them that love him". Verse 16 follows Isaiah 40:13, "Who hath directed the Spirit of the Lord, or being his counsellor hath taught him?" Neither "them that are perfect" nor "the natural man" is defined by any group, nation or party in this chapter.

Cited passages: 1 Corinthians 2:1, 1 Corinthians 2:2, 1 Corinthians 2:6, 1 Corinthians 2:8, 1 Corinthians 2:9, 1 Corinthians 2:14, 1 Corinthians 2:16, Isaiah 64:4, Isaiah 40:13

Literary context

The chapter moves by denial before affirmation, and the pattern repeats: not with excellency of speech, not with enticing words, not the wisdom of this world, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, not received by the natural man. Most of those refusals are answered by a but clause that supplies the replacement, though the statement about the natural man is left without one. Wisdom itself is used in two opposite senses within a few verses, rejected as the world's and claimed as God's, so the same word carries the argument in both directions. The centre is an argument from likeness rather than from scripture, setting a man's own spirit beside the Spirit of God. The last verse quotes a question that expects no answer and then answers a different one, ending the chapter on a claim rather than on the quotation.

Cited passages: 1 Corinthians 2:1, 1 Corinthians 2:4, 1 Corinthians 2:5, 1 Corinthians 2:6, 1 Corinthians 2:7, 1 Corinthians 2:11, 1 Corinthians 2:13, 1 Corinthians 2:14, 1 Corinthians 2:16

Key moments

1. Not with excellency of speech (1 Corinthians 2:1). The manner of his arrival is described by what it lacked.
2. Nothing but Christ crucified (1 Corinthians 2:2). He states the one subject he decided to know among them.
3. Weakness, fear and trembling (1 Corinthians 2:3). His condition while with them is stated plainly.
4. Wisdom in a mystery (1 Corinthians 2:7). A hidden wisdom of God is distinguished from the world's.
5. Eye hath not seen (1 Corinthians 2:9). A written line is quoted about what God has prepared.
6. The natural man (1 Corinthians 2:14). Spiritual things are said to be foolishness to him.
7. The mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16). The chapter closes by answering a scriptural question with a claim.

For reflection

Paul says he came in weakness, fear and much trembling, and in the same chapter claims to speak God's hidden wisdom. How do you hold those two descriptions of one person together?

People in this chapter

• Jesus Christ