Spiritual Wisdom

We do, however, speak a wisdom among the mature,(A) but not a wisdom of this age, or of the rulers(B) of this age, who are coming to nothing.(C) On the contrary, we speak God’s hidden wisdom in a mystery, a wisdom God predestined(D) before the ages for our glory.(E) None of the rulers of this age knew this wisdom, because if they had known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.(F) But as it is written,

What no eye has seen, no ear has heard,
and no human heart has conceived—
God has prepared these things for those who love him.[a](G)

10 Now God has revealed these things to us by the Spirit, since the Spirit searches everything,(H) even the depths of God.(I) 11 For who knows a person’s thoughts[b] except his spirit(J) within him? In the same way, no one knows(K) the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who comes from God, so that we may understand what has been freely given to us by God. 13 We also speak these things, not in words(L) taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual things to spiritual people.[c]

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Footnotes

  1. 2:9 Is 52:15; 64:4
  2. 2:11 Or things
  3. 2:13 Or things with spiritual words

God’s Spirit Reveals Everything

However, when we are among mature people, we do speak a message of[a] wisdom, but not the wisdom of this world or of the rulers of this world, who are passing off the scene. Instead, we speak about God’s wisdom in a hidden secret, which God destined before the world began[b] for our glory. None of the rulers of this world understood it, because if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. But as it is written,

“No eye has seen, no ear has heard,
    and no mind has imagined
the things that God has prepared
    for those who love him.”[c]

10 But[d] God has revealed those things to us by his Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the deep things of God.

11 Is there anyone who can understand his own thoughts except his own inner spirit? In the same way, no one can know the thoughts of God except God’s Spirit. 12 Now, we have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who comes from God, so that we can understand the things that were freely given to us by God. 13 We don’t speak about these things with words taught us by human wisdom, but with words[e] taught by the Spirit, as we explain spiritual things to spiritual people.[f]

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Corinthians 2:6 The Gk. lacks a message of
  2. 1 Corinthians 2:7 The Gk. lacks began
  3. 1 Corinthians 2:9 Isa 64:4
  4. 1 Corinthians 2:10 Other mss. read For
  5. 1 Corinthians 2:13 Lit. in things
  6. 1 Corinthians 2:13 Or in spiritual words