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The Mysterious Wisdom of God

The Plan of God, True Wisdom. However, to those who are mature, we do speak of wisdom, although not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age[a] whose end is not far distant. Rather, we speak of the mysterious and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glory. None of the rulers of this age comprehended it. If they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.[b] For as it is written,

“Eye has not seen, ear has not heard,
    nor has the human heart imagined
    what God has prepared for those who love him.”

10 The Spirit Enables Faith To Mature. However, God has revealed these things to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit explores everything, even the depths of God.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Corinthians 2:6 Rulers of this age: not only the Jewish and Roman leaders under whom Jesus was crucified (see Acts 4:25-28) but also the cosmic powers that were in league with them (see Eph 1:20-23; 3:10).
  2. 1 Corinthians 2:8 Here the Lord of glory is Jesus Christ. In the Old Testament, it is a title of God (see Ex 24:16; Pss 24:7; 29:9); Paul is therefore asserting here the divinity of Jesus.

God’s Wisdom Revealed by the Spirit

We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature,(A) but not the wisdom of this age(B) or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing.(C) No, we declare God’s wisdom, a mystery(D) that has been hidden(E) and that God destined for our glory before time began. None of the rulers of this age(F) understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.(G) However, as it is written:

“What no eye has seen,
    what no ear has heard,
and what no human mind has conceived”[a]
    the things God has prepared for those who love him—(H)

10 these are the things God has revealed(I) to us by his Spirit.(J)

The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Corinthians 2:9 Isaiah 64:4