1 Corinthians 2:6-16

1 Corinthians 2:6-16

[6] Howbeit  we speak  wisdom  among  them that are perfect:  yet  not  the wisdom  world,  nor  of the princes  world,  that come to nought:  [7] But  we speak  the wisdom  of God  in  a mystery,  even the hidden  wisdom, which  God  ordained  before  the world  unto  glory:  [8] Which  none  of the princes  world  knew:  for  had they known  it, they  not  have crucified  the Lord  of glory.  [9] But  as  it is written,  Eye  not  nor  ear  heard,  neither  have entered  into  the heart  of man,  the things which  God  hath prepared  for them that love  him.  [10] God  hath revealed  by  Spirit:  for  the Spirit  searcheth  all things,  yea,  the deep things  of God.  [11] For  what  man  knoweth  the things  of a man,  the spirit  of man  which  is in  him?  even  so  the things  of God  knoweth  no man,  the Spirit  of God.  [12] Now  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  of  God.  [13] Which things  also  we speak,  not  in  the words  which man's  wisdom  teacheth,  but  Ghost  teacheth;  comparing  spiritual things  [14] But  the natural  man  receiveth  not  the things  of the Spirit  of God:  for  foolishness  unto him:  neither  can  he know  them, because  they are spiritually  discerned.  [15] But  he that is spiritual  all things,  yet  he himself  is judged  of  no man.  [16] For  who  hath known  the mind  of the Lord,  that  he may instruct  him?  But  have  the mind  of Christ. 

What does 1 Corinthians 2:6-16 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

Paul"s reference to the Holy Spirit"s power ( 1 Corinthians 2:4-5) led him to elaborate on the Spirit"s ministry in enlightening the minds of believers and unbelievers alike. The Corinthians needed to view ministry differently. The key to this change would be the Holy Spirit"s illumination of their thinking. People who are pursuing true wisdom (sophia) cannot perceive it except as the Holy Spirit enlightens them.
Paul constructed his argument in this section with three contrasts that overlap slightly. The first contrast is between those who receive God"s wisdom and those who do not ( 1 Corinthians 2:6-10 a), and the second one is the Spirit of God and the spirit of the world ( 1 Corinthians 2:10-13). The third contrast is the "natural" person and the "spiritual" person ( 1 Corinthians 2:14-16). [1]
"Paul is not here rebuilding what he has just torn down. He is retooling their understanding of the Spirit and spirituality, in order that they might perceive the truth of what he has been arguing to this point.
"While it is true that much of the language of this paragraph is not common to Paul, the explanation of this phenomenon Isaiah , as before, to be found in his using their language but filling it with his own content and thus refuting them. The theology, however, is his own, and it differs radically from theirs.... Paul"s concern throughout is to get the Corinthians to understand who they are-in terms of the cross-and to stop acting as non-Spirit people." [2]