1 Corinthians 2:6-16
English Standard Version
Wisdom from the Spirit
6 Yet among (A)the mature we do impart wisdom, although it is not (B)a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, (C)who are doomed to pass away. 7 But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, (D)which God decreed before the ages for our glory. 8 None of (E)the rulers of this age understood this, for (F)if they had, they would not have crucified (G)the Lord of glory. 9 But, as it is written,
(H)“What no eye has seen, nor ear heard,
nor the heart of man imagined,
what God has (I)prepared (J)for those who love him”—
10 these things (K)God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even (L)the depths of God. 11 For who knows a person's thoughts (M)except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 12 Now (N)we have received not (O)the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. 13 And we impart this (P)in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, (Q)interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.[a]
14 The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are (R)folly to him, and (S)he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. 15 The (T)spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one. 16 (U)“For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But (V)we have the mind of Christ.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 1 Corinthians 2:13 Or interpreting spiritual truths in spiritual language, or comparing spiritual things with spiritual
1 Corinthians 2:6-16
Easy-to-Read Version
God’s Wisdom
6 We teach wisdom to people who are mature, but the wisdom we teach is not from this world. It is not the wisdom of the rulers of this world, who are losing their power. 7 But we speak God’s secret wisdom that has been hidden from everyone until now. God planned this wisdom for our glory. He planned it before the world began. 8 None of the rulers of this world understood this wisdom. If they had understood it, they would not have killed our great and glorious Lord on a cross. 9 But as the Scriptures say,
“No one has ever seen,
no one has ever heard,
no one has ever imagined
what God has prepared for those who love him.” (A)
10 But God has shown us these things through the Spirit.
The Spirit knows all things. The Spirit even knows the deep secrets of God. 11 It is like this: No one knows the thoughts that another person has. Only the person’s spirit that lives inside knows those thoughts. It is the same with God. No one knows God’s thoughts except God’s Spirit. 12 We received the Spirit that is from God, not the spirit of the world. We received God’s Spirit so that we can know all that God has given us.
13 When we say this, we don’t use words taught to us by human wisdom. We use words taught to us by the Spirit. We use the Spirit’s words to explain spiritual truths. 14 People who do not have God’s Spirit do not accept the things that come from his Spirit. They think these things are foolish. They cannot understand them, because they can only be understood with the Spirit’s help. 15 We who have the Spirit are able to make judgments about all these things. But anyone without the Spirit is not able to make proper judgments about us. 16 As the Scriptures say,
“Who can know what is on the Lord’s mind?
Who is able to give him advice?” (B)
But we have been given Christ’s way of thinking.
Read full chapterThe Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Copyright © 2006 by Bible League International