1 Corinthians Chapter 2: A Bible Commentary by Charlrd R. Sabo

1 Corinthians:

Chapter 2

 A Bible Commentary

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. Paul is the writer, therefore is the pronoun “I.” He first came to the Corinthians on his second missionary journey, after he left Athens (Acts 18:1). He called the receivers of this epistle “brethren,” and therefore they were the already converted Christian Corinthians. Paul admitted that he did not speak Greek (excellency of speech) as well as the Corinthian brethren, nor did he impose his wisdom over theirs. He presented them with not understanding him the first time he spoke with them concerning the testimony of God, being the gospel of Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 2:2 Because I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and Him crucified. In the context of the previous verse, Paul did not present himself as a know-it-all expert on any topic of conversation, other than the good news (gospel) of Jesus Christ. As we should understand, Paul had predetermined to be humble and teach the Corinthians concerning one thing, being Jesus Christ and Him crucified. He did, however, teach them concerning their morality in accordance with repentance upon their belief. As a Christian should realize, the gospel of Christ is only effective if the nonbeliever is taught about their sins against the Most High GOD; repentance is a requirement for salvation, therefore we can know that Paul taught this.

After the Apostle Paul left Corinth, it can be construed that he sent his new converts a letter, which is now lost. Biographer, Frederick F. Bruce refers to this lost letter as “Corinthians A,” while referring to 1 Corinthians as “Corinthians B.”[1] We can find evidence of this lost epistle revealed in Paul’s comments within 1 Corinthians 5:9-11. “I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators” (1 Cor. 5:9). While in Ephesus, three members of the Corinthian church (Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus) wrote Paul asking him questions in behalf of the congregation.[2] Paul proceeded to answer their questions one by one within 1 Corinthians 7-16.[3] This letter back to the Corinthians was written in Ephesus by Paul during his third missionary journey.

1 Corinthians 2:3 And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. Paul had beforehand experienced Judean persecution in both Thessalonica and Be-re’a, and then fled to Athens (Acts 17:5-14). Speculating, we could presume that Paul most likely knew that the persecuting Judeans would eventually follow him to Athens, which seemed to motivate him to leave Athens and head to Corinth. His fear and trembling can be attributed to this continuous persecution, then followed by the persecution instigated by Sosthenes (chief ruler of the synagogue) before his conversion (Acts 18:12-17).

1 Corinthians 2:4 And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: The Greeks were used to the well-educated philosophers publicly speaking their education through man’s wisdom. Paul humbly admitted that he was not very impressive in his speech presenting the gospel of Christ. We do know that Paul was full of the Holy Spirit (Acts 18:5). Paul was empowered by the Holy Spirit, which gave him great power to perform supernatural healings. Paul’s ability to speak in tongues of other languages (inspired by the Holy Spirit), to bring a foreigner into repentance, was also a power displayed in Corinth (1 Cor. 14). We can presume this, because in Chapters 12-14 of this epistle, he had to school them on the proper use of the spiritual gifts among the brethren.  

1 Corinthians 2:5 That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. Paul reminded the Corinthian brethren that their faith in Christ should not rely on the wisdom of nonbelievers (men), but should rely on the power of God (Holy Spirit). There is one quote from the Apostle Paul to King Agrippa that best explains what this power of God will be and do. Please keep in mind, Paul quoted what the Lord had commanded him, so keep in mind these are the words from Jesus Christ to Paul upon his conversion.  

To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in Me. (Acts 26:18) 

According to the Lord Jesus, the power of God brings that faith (which are set-apart [sanctified]), to receive forgiveness of sins, and their inheritance of God’s Everlasting Kingdom.

1 Corinthians 2:6 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: Verse 2:6 must be read together with verse 2:7. Paul presented the Corinthian brethren with a correction of the cultural hierarchy of men and women of this world. Paul’s use of the Greek adjective “teleios” was intended in sarcasm to the men and women of this world that think that they are complete and in need of nothing; the people of this world think that they are good enough on their own, in order to achieve everlasting life; they think they are already perfect just as they are.

Paul included all Christians (we) in speaking God’s wisdom among those that think that they are in need of nothing to be complete (perfect). Paul went back to the wisdom of this world, which he had already schooled them on within 1:18-28 of this epistle. Christians (we) speak God’s wisdom, and not the wisdom of this world, nor of the wisdom of princes (magistrates) of this world; this is because their wisdom dies with them, but God’s wisdom is eternal. Paul used the Greek verb “katargeō,” which was translated as “come to nought,” but Paul intended the translation in English to be “that pass away.” Verse 2:7 then presents the exclusion to speaking wisdom of this world.

1 Corinthians 2:7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: Instead of speaking the wisdom of this world, Christians (we) speak the wisdom of God that appears (to the Gentiles especially) as a hidden wisdom; this hidden mystery should be construed to be because they had never studied the Old Testament, nor read of the coming Messiah. Surely, Isaiah 52-53 was intended to bring clarity to the Jews in what was to occur on the cross, but even they were clueless to this mystery. Paul acknowledged that God had predetermined for this mysterious gospel of Messiah Jesus before He ever made the world, meanwhile intended this for all of the glory of every Christian that has ever lived. Paul used the Greek verb “proorizō,” which actually means: “to predetermine, decide beforehand,” while the translators could have actually used “preordained.”

1 Corinthians 2:8 Which none of the princes of this world knew, because had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. Paul explained here that if this gospel of Messiah Jesus was not a mystery, then the princes of this world in Jerusalem would never have crucified Him, thus there would be no good news of salvation.

1 Corinthians 2:9 But as it is written: “Eye have not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God has prepared for them that love Him.”

Because since the beginning of the world, men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither has the eye seen, Oh GOD, beside YOU, what He has prepared for him that waits for Him. (Is. 64:4)  

In utter amazement, Isaiah spoke to GOD the Father concerning what Messiah has in store for those who wait for Him. The context has to be in this order, since he was speaking to GOD and wrote of another (He, Him). What Isaiah had implied here is that no man in the entire history of the Earth has heard, nor seen, what Messiah Jesus has prepared for those who wait for His return. The return that is being anticipated is not His Second Coming to the Earth, but His catching away (harpazo, rapturo) of His Bride, the church. We (the church) have been provided small pieces of information from Jesus of what He would be spending nearly two thousand years preparing for us in His Father’s house. The tidbit of clues cannot possibly even come close to describe the magnificence and splendor of the place, which He has been preparing.[4]  

2 In My Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto Myself: that where I Am, there you may be also. (Jn. 14:2-3) 

There are those who live their lives, while not thinking of the promises of the Lord. Jesus had commanded His church to “look up” when we see the signs begin to come to pass, because our redemption draws near. “And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.” (Luke 21:28) The command is to wait for Him to come back, after He has prepared our place and to “look up” in anticipation of His return, once we have seen the warned events begin to occur. That is not to anticipate the events to all come to complete conclusion, but at the beginning of those events. Within Luke 21:25, the signs will be in the sun, the moon, and in the stars; the Earth will have signs of distress of the nations, because of the signs in the heavens, as well as the perplexities being caused upon the Earth. The signs in the heavens will cause the seas to rage, with the waves roaring. When the waiting church observes these things begin to come to pass, we are commanded by the Lord to “look up,” because our redemption draws near.[5]

1 Corinthians 2:10 But God had revealed them unto us by His Spirit: because the Spirit searches all things, yea, the deep things of GOD. If a Christian is searching for a verse that states that the Holy Spirit interprets the mysteries of God for us, while we read God’s word…here it is. I find myself reading verses many times through the years, until I do a deep dive search accompanied by God’s Holy Spirit, then the deep things become clear to me. He searches all things with me, and I find mysteries that Christians have not yet found. Much of my theology that I teach is not influenced by the men of the pulpits, nor their books, but with the accompaniment of the Holy Spirit of GOD.

1 Corinthians 2:11 Because what man knows the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? Even so the things of God knows no man, but the Spirit of God. A man (or woman) cannot know the things of God, without the Holy Spirit of God. This statement makes perfect sense to those of us with the Holy Spirit of God inside us, but many preachers, authors, and laypeople of the church do not have the Holy Spirit of God living within them. This would answer the frustrations of so many non-believers, who question why there are so many denominations of Christianity in the modern day. Some pastors teach doctrines that the Bible does not support, while others go along with them, because they do not know what the things of God are. Heretical doctrines are overwhelming our modern world, while those who grew up under a family of somewhat Christian beliefs fall out of the church and become agnostics, or even atheists. Antichrist doctrines have become more commonly found within churches that once were biblical Christianity.

God works even better when the darkness of this world becomes more and more dominant. God’s light is better seen in darkness. The Holy Spirit of God is always at work and is doing His supernatural work in turning some of these people, walking in darkness, towards the light of Jesus Christ. Once the Holy Spirit of God transforms a person’s heart of stone into a heart of flesh (Ezek. 36:26), they become a new creature born again of the Spirit of God; they become a new creature (2 Cor. 5:17) with the Holy Spirit of God living within them (Eph. 1:13-14). Only then they are able to know the things of God.

1 Corinthians 2:12 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. Once the Holy Spirit of God transforms a person’s heart of stone into a heart of flesh (Ezek. 36:26), they become a new creature born again (Jn. 3:3-8) of the Spirit of God; they become a new creature (2 Cor. 5:17) with the Holy Spirit of God living within them (Eph. 1:13-14). Only then they are able to freely know the things of God. Theologically, this transformation (new birth) is called Regeneration.

1 Corinthians 2:13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teaches, but which the Holy Spirit teaches; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. The word of the Lord Jesus the Messiah spoke on this matter to Nicodemus in John Chapter 3.  

5 Jesus answered: “Verily, verily, I say unto you, ‘Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.”’ (Jn. 3:5-6)

Once a person is born again of the Holy Spirit of God, then He teaches that new creature in Christ spiritual things, which are of God. A person cannot choose this supernatural transformation for themselves, nor for anyone else. This is up to GOD the Father and HIS will being done. GOD the Father calls a predetermined person to HIS Son, by this supernatural work of HIS Holy Spirit. “No man can come to Me, except the Father which has sent Me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.” (Jn. 6:44)

1 Corinthians 2:14 But the natural man receives not the things of the Spirit of God, because they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. As per what the Apostle Paul had been teaching, he put the lesson together to inform the Corinthian Christians of their uniqueness compared to the rest of mankind (natural man). The natural man is not born again of the Spirit of God, therefore they cannot perceive the things of the Spirit of God; this is why the things of God are considered foolishness as per 1 Corinthians 1:18-25. This is why a non-believer will get bored (rolling their eyes) listening to a preacher teaching the things of the Spirit of God, because those things are to be spiritually discerned. The gospel of Christ only convicts a person whose heart of stone has been supernaturally transformed into a heart of flesh (Ezek. 36:26 [Regeneration]). Then the things of the Holy Spirit of God can be spiritually discerned by this new creature in Christ (2 Cor. 5:17).

1 Corinthians 2:15 But he that is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is judged by no man. The judging spoken of here should be determined and be realized that we are still referring to that person who is spiritually discerning from the previous verse. A person can insert God as the One who is doing the judging, though it works, it is not the context that Paul is teaching. The man (or woman) who already has been transformed into a new creature in Christ Jesus, has the ability to judge (discern) all things, because the Holy Spirit of God dwells within him (her); that same person is therefore judged (anakrinō ) by no natural man, because natural man does not have the spiritual discernment to understand the things of God.

 This presents a dilemma for each Christian, when considering what the Apostle Paul had written within Romans 13:1-4. Though the natural man may have been given authority to judge a Christian concerning natural man’s laws, he cannot discern the things of God. A Christian must obey God, and be obedient to the laws of natural man, because it is God who gave natural man the authority to judge over that Christian. Obedience in the Lord God is tested by Romans 13:1-4, therefore a caution should be taken to make sure this statement in 1 Corinthians 2:15 is not taken out of context concerning Romans 13:1-4.

1Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers, because there is no power, but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.

2 Whosoever therefore resists the power, resists the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.

3 Because rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Will you then not be afraid of the power? Do that which is good, and you shall have praise of the same:

4 Because he is the minister of God to you for good. But if you do that which is evil, be afraid, because he bears not the sword in vain, because he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that does evil. (Rom. 13:1-4)

1 Corinthians 2:16 Because who has known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct Him? But we have the Mind of Christ. We all can know the mind of the Lord through His Holy Spirit only. No one can instruct the mind of the Lord, because it is a one-way street. He instructs His Christians, but they cannot instruct Him. In Paul’s letter to the Philippians, God manifested a powerful passage towards selflessness. He emanated that all walk in the Mind of Christ. Dr. Ben Gutierrez wrote a masterpiece book focusing on the Epistle to the Philippians. With special attention to Philippians 2:1-11, Dr. Gutierrez laid out the passion of Christ for all to live out within their lives on the Earth.  

1 If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,

2 Fulfil my joy, that you be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.

3 Let nothing be done through strife nor vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than themselves.

4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.

5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

6 Who, being in the form of GOD, thought it not robbery to be equal with GOD:

7 But made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a Servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

8 And being found in fashion as a Man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

9 Wherefore GOD also has highly exalted Him, and given Him a Name which is above every name:

10 That at the Name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in Earth, and things under the Earth;

11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of GOD the Father. (Phil. 2:1-11)

The depth of this passage cannot be picked up while just reading it once or twice; it must be prayed about and broken down as Dr. Gutierrez has done. I can only reflect briefly on what he has realized. It would be a blessing to anyone who reads this well-written short book.  

Philippians 2:5 says, “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.” When Paul penned this verse in his own language, he chose an interesting noun for “mind.” The Greek noun for mind here means “attitude” or “thinking.” Therefore, the word implies that the Mind of Christ is not a mere creed, theory, or formula—it is an attitude![6]

With the “Mind of Christ” being interpreted as an attitude, we can reflect to the teachings of Jesus as He lived out His selflessness. This is commanded for all to live by and definitely is His passion.

[1] Bruce, Paul: Apostle of the Heart Set Free, 262.

[2] Ibid., 264.

[3] Ibid.

[4] Sabo, Isaiah, 460.

[5] Ibid., 460-461.

[6] Dr. Ben Gutierrez, Living Out the Mind of Christ (Virginia Beach: Academx Publishing Services, Inc., 2011), 16.