The Apostle is continuing the subject begun in the latter part of the first chapter—human wisdom, and what man glories in. When he had come to Corinth a few years before with the gospel, his preaching was not with excellent words or the wisdom that appeals to the natural mind; philosophy had no place in it. He had determined to know nothing among those who heard him, but Jesus Christ, and Him crucified. This was the theme of the Apostle as he spoke from day to day to the people of Corinth: not the glorified, but the humble, the despised, Christ, and Him nailed to a cross to die. Just before this he had been in the near-by city of Athens, the great center of learning of that day; and only a few there had believed.
What a change had taken place in Paul since his conversion! He “was before a blasphemer and persecutor and an insolent, overbearing man,” as he said in his First Epistle to Timothy, (1 Tim. 1:11Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our Saviour, and Lord Jesus Christ, which is our hope; (1 Timothy 1:1)3 JnD), but in Corinth he was with his hearers “in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling” (1 Cor. 2:33And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. (1 Corinthians 2:3)). This was the way of God’s power.
We may gather from Acts 18 that Paul was for some time in Corinth without finding many to receive the Word of God which he brought to them. It was then that he got a cheering message from his Master, as we read in the 9th and 10th verses:
“Then spake the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision, Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace; for I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee; for I have much people in this city.”
The Apostle’s message from God made nothing of man; man, indeed, was set aside altogether in his preaching, “and my word and my preaching, not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith might not stand in men’s wisdom but in God’s power” (1 Cor. 2:4-54And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: 5That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. (1 Corinthians 2:4‑5) JND). Of the Holy Spirit the Lord had said, when soon to depart from the world, “And when He is come, He will reprove (or bring demonstration to) the world of sin, and of righteousness and of judgment” (John 16:88And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: (John 16:8)).
Such was His work in power in human souls at Corinth, causing the Word of God as ministered by the Apostle Paul to reach the heart and the conscience of many. God be praised that this work of the Holy Spirit is still going on, and is finding lodgment in human breasts today!
1 Cor. 2:66Howbeit 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: (1 Corinthians 2:6), in its first clause is somewhat of a reflection on the believers at Corinth, as may be seen by referring to the opening verses of the next chapter, where the Apostle speaks more plainly. “Them that are perfect” as used here, means those that are of full age, as in Hebrews 5:1414But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. (Hebrews 5:14), where the same Greek word is employed. The Corinthian saints were not full grown, but babes in Christ, because they had not entered into the doctrine of the cross whereby man in the flesh is judged; the cross of Christ marks the end of man judicially before, God. All that flesh could glory in, is there brought to naught.
“Them that are perfect,” these are those who are in a Christian state, who are established in the doctrine of salvation in Christ. Among such the Apostle could bring out far more than he had unfolded to the Corinthians. This was, wisdom not of this age, nor of the rulers of this age who come to naught, but the wisdom of God. It was “in a mystery,” because not made known before; kept secret through the preceding ages of time; for God had predetermined it before the ages, for our glory (1 Cor. 2:77But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: (1 Corinthians 2:7) JND).
The Epistle to the Ephesians brings out this truth (Eph. 1:99Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: (Ephesians 1:9); Eph. 3:3-53How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, 4Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) 5Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; (Ephesians 3:3‑5)), and presents in its fullness that wisdom of God of which the Apostle speaks in his letter to the Corinthians. It is given to the Church, to God’s heavenly saints, brought by the Holy Spirit out of the world for Christ in the period between the cross and the meeting in the air now close at hand. Alas! that there are so few Ephesian Christians, the many remaining like the Corinthian Christians, as we see them in these chapters.
1 Cor. 2:88Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. (1 Corinthians 2:8): None of the rulers of this age knew this hidden wisdom; if they had seen the glory of God in Christ, they would not have crucified Him who is the “Lord of Glory.” That is His present place; what a contrast the title presents with the ignominy and shame of His cross!
In 1 Cor. 2:99But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. (1 Corinthians 2:9) the Apostle turns to Isaiah 64:44For since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside thee, what he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him. (Isaiah 64:4) to quote it as showing what is not the Christian state, for he immediately adds “But God hath revealed unto us by His Spirit.” Sometimes children of God mistakenly quote the ninth verse without what is attached to it in the tenth. We may be very slow to apprehend what God has done for His children, but the fault is our own; we ought to be in the knowledge and enjoyment of all of His truth.
The 10th and following verses tell of the operations of the Spirit of God, who is present on earth, indwelling believers, guiding and energizing them, etc., as is brought out in the 8th of Romans. By the Spirit, God has revealed unto us the things which He has prepared for them that love Him, which eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have they entered into the heart of man. What marvels of God’s grace flow out to the believer because of the cross of Christ!
We have been told that God has revealed these hidden things to us by His Spirit; then it is added, “for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.” He alone is competent to do this, for He is God. In the case of man, used as an example in the 11Th verse, it is plain that only the spirit of the man knows his unrevealed thoughts; just so the Spirit of God alone knows the things of God, and searches them out, even the deep things of God. Turning to 1 Peter 1:10-1210Of which salvation the prophets have inquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: 11Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. 12Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into. (1 Peter 1:10‑12), we find a most interesting statement about the Old Testament prophets. As a result of writing by inspiration of a time of unexampled blessing to be brought to pass, connected with a suffering Messiah, they inquired and searched diligently...searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glory that should follow; unto whom it was revealed that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things which are now reported unto you, etc.” It is the Spirit of God, present in the saints, Who searches, reveals, and communicates all the counsels of God.
Now, says the Apostle in 1 Cor. 2:1212Now 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. (1 Corinthians 2:12), 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. This is broadly true of all believers, but the subject here is what Paul and others to whom the truth of God was committed by revelation, had received.
“Which things also we speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, communicating spiritual things by spiritual means” (1 Cor. 2:11And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. (1 Corinthians 2:1)3 JnD). So the Epistles give us the Holy Spirit’s words, God’s words, not man’s. The Spirit of God is the source and the communicator, the teacher. The natural man (1 Cor. 2:1414But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. (1 Corinthians 2:14)) does not apprehend these communications of God’s counsels; they are folly to him. But the spiritual man (1 Cor. 2:1515But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. (1 Corinthians 2:15)) “discerns all things, and he is discerned of no one” (JND.).
The chapter closes with a reference to Isaiah 40:1313Who hath directed the Spirit of the Lord, or being his counsellor hath taught him? (Isaiah 40:13), “Who hath directed the Spirit of the Lord (Jehovah), or being His counselor hath taught Him?” The answer to this challenge of the prophet follows: “but we have the mind of Christ.” We have not, as another has said, the divine mind abstractedly, but we, believers, have the Holy Spirit dwelling in us, and through Him the revelation of the mystery (1 Cor. 2:77But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: (1 Corinthians 2:7)).