1 Corinthians 2:1-8

Holman Christian Standard Bible

Paul’s Proclamation

2 When I came to you, brothers, announcing the testimony^[a] of God to you, I did not come with brilliance^(A) of speech^(B) or wisdom. ² For I didn’t think it was a good idea to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.^{(C) 3} I came to you in weakness,^(D) in fear,^(E) and in much trembling.^{(F) 4} My speech^(G) and my proclamation were not with persuasive^(H) words of wisdom^[b] but with a powerful demonstration by the Spirit, ⁵ so that your faith might not be based on men’s wisdom but on God’s power.^(I)

Spiritual Wisdom

⁶ However, we do speak a wisdom among the mature,^(J) but not a wisdom of this age, or of the rulers^(K) of this age, who are coming to nothing.^{(L) 7} On the contrary, we speak God’s hidden wisdom in a mystery, a wisdom God predestined^(M) before the ages for our glory.^{(N) 8} None of the rulers of this age knew this wisdom, for if they had known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.^(O)