The Epistles · Chapter 2 of 16
1 Corinthians 2
Paul reminds the Corinthians that he came not with impressive speech but resolved to know only Jesus Christ and Him crucified, so their faith would rest on God's power. He speaks a hidden wisdom of God, which the rulers of this age did not know, or they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. This wisdom is revealed by the Spirit, and believers have the mind of Christ.
What happens in 1 Corinthians 2
Paul recalls that when he came to Corinth he did not use lofty speech or worldly wisdom, but came in weakness, fear, and much trembling. His preaching relied not on persuasive words but on a demonstration of the Spirit and power, so their faith would rest in God, not human wisdom. Yet Paul does speak a wisdom, not of this world or its passing rulers. It is the hidden wisdom of God, ordained before the ages for our glory, which none of the rulers of this age understood, for had they known it they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
Quoting Scripture, Paul says God has prepared what no eye has seen for those who love Him, and has revealed it by His Spirit, who searches the deep things of God. Believers received that Spirit to understand what God freely gives. The natural person cannot receive the things of the Spirit, but the spiritual person has the mind of Christ.
1 Corinthians 2 in context
Continuing his argument against the Corinthians' love of eloquence and worldly wisdom, Paul reflects on his own ministry among them. This chapter deepens the contrast between human wisdom and God's wisdom begun in chapter one.
Paul explains why he preached so plainly and how the true wisdom of God is grasped, not by intellect or status, but through the revealing work of the Holy Spirit given to believers.
Main themes of 1 Corinthians 2
1 Corinthians 2 (KJV)
1And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. 2For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. 3And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. 4And 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. 6Howbeit 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: 7But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: 8Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 9But 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. 10But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. 11For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. 12Now 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. 13Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 14But 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. 15But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. 16For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.
Verses to carry from 1 Corinthians 2
“For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.”1 Corinthians 2:2
“Which 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
“For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.”1 Corinthians 2:16
Thematic connection
How 1 Corinthians 2 points to Jesus
Paul defines his entire ministry by one focus: he determined to know nothing among them except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified. The crucified Christ is not a starting point he moves beyond but the whole content of the wisdom he preaches. The chapter's most piercing line names the rulers of this age as those who, in their blindness, crucified the Lord of glory, an unmistakable identification of Jesus with the glory of God itself.
The hidden wisdom they missed is the salvation accomplished at the cross, prepared before the ages for those who love God. Paul ends by claiming that believers, filled with the Spirit, have the mind of Christ, so His crucifixion is not only the object of faith but the very pattern of the wisdom the Spirit imparts. To know Christ crucified is to know God's deepest wisdom.
Questions about 1 Corinthians 2
What does it mean that they crucified the Lord of glory?
Paul says the rulers of this age did not understand God's hidden wisdom, for had they known it they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. The phrase identifies Jesus with the very glory of God, showing the depth of the tragedy at the cross. Yet it also reveals God's wisdom at work, for through that misunderstood crucifixion God accomplished the salvation He had planned before the ages for those who love Him.
What is the mind of Christ in 1 Corinthians 2?
Paul closes by saying that believers, having received the Spirit of God, have the mind of Christ. This means the Holy Spirit gives them the ability to understand and value the things God has freely given, which the natural person dismisses as foolishness. It is not human intelligence but a Spirit-given discernment that lets believers grasp God's wisdom, centered on Christ crucified, and see reality the way He does.
Reflection
We often assume spiritual truth is won by cleverness or study, but Paul insists it is revealed by the Spirit to those who love God. Consider how much you rely on your own reasoning and how little on the Spirit given to you. To have the mind of Christ is a gift to receive humbly, not an achievement to earn.
A prayer from 1 Corinthians 2
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