1Paul declareth that he did not use human learning and eloquence in preaching the gospel to his converts, that their faith, being built on the testimony of the spirit, and on miracles, might be solely ascribed to God. 6The gospel doth contain God's wise, but secret, counsel, for bringing men to glory; which no natural abilities could discover, but the spirit of God only, by which it was revealed to the apostles. 14Upon this account both the doctrine and its teachers are held in disesteem by the mere natural man, who is not duly qualified to judge of and discern them.
1AND I, brethren, when I came to you, camea not with 1excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you 2the testimony of God.
a verse 4; 1 Cor. 1:17.
1 Gr. excellency of word, that is, a garnished manner of speaking by which I sought to seem wise above others, or to excel; or to persuade you. See 1 Cor. 4:19.
2 That is, the Gospel, which is revealed to us by God, and testifies of the will of God for our salvation, 1 Cor. 1:6.
2For I 3determined not to know 4any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and 5him crucified.
3 Gr. judged. For although the apostle was an expert in many other things, yet nevertheless he would hold forth nothing but what was necessary unto their salvation.
4 That is, to speak of any other knowledge with you.
5 That is, Who by His death, and resurrection following, has redeemed us from our sins, and has made us partakers of everlasting salvation, Rom. 4:25; 10:9, 10.
3Andb I was with you 6in weakness,c and in fear, and in much trembling.
b Acts 18:1.
6 These things may be understood, either of the humble position wherein the apostle kept himself when he was at Corinth, that not he, but only his doctrine would be in esteem with them, contrary to the haughtiness of those who occasioned these schism; or, of the prudence and timidity which he used in propounding the doctrine of salvation, that he does not mingle anything human therewith, in order that the power thereof would be ascribed, not to his own wisdom or eloquence, but only to the nature of the doctrine which he preached, and the co-operation of the Spirit of God, which agrees best with what follows.
c Acts 18:3; 2 Cor. 10:10.
4And my speech and my preaching wasd not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in 7demonstration of the Spirit and of power:
d Verse 1; 1 Cor. 1:17; 2 Peter 1:16.
7 That is, demonstration of the spiritual power which was joined with his word, outwardly by miracles, and inwardly by the operation of the Holy Spirit, 2 Cor. 3:3.
5That your faith should 8not stand 9in the wisdom of men, bute10in the power of God.
8 That is, should not have its cause or foundation.
9 That is, in speeches or words which invents human wisdom.
e 2 Cor. 4:7.
10 That is, in the Divinity of the doctrine, witnessed to our hearts by the power of the Spirit of God, Acts 16:14.
6Howbeitf we speak 11wisdom 12among them that are perfect: yet notg the wisdom 13of this world, nor 14of the princes of this world, thath come to 15nought:
f Job 28:21.
11 That is, the most profound mysteries of God’s Word, as verse 7. Otherwise he fed the weak and tender (ones) with milk. See 1 Cor. 3:2; Heb. 5:12.
12 That is, those who have made more progress in the matters of faith, and now need no more to be instructed in the first principles. See Rom. 14:1, 2 and 15:1; Philip. 3:15; Heb. 5:14. These are called perfect in comparison to others; otherwise no man is here perfect in knowledge as long as he lives, 1 Cor. 13:9.
g James 3:15.
13 That is, which is considered and greatly esteemed for human ingenuity.
14 That is, of the wise and mighty, as verse 8.
h 1 Cor. 15:24.
15 Namely, with all their wisdom and might, forasmuch as it is of no use outside of this world.
7But we speak 16the wisdom of God ini a 17mystery, even thej hidden wisdom, 18which God ordained 19before the world unto our glory:
16 That is, which God has revealed to us for our salvation.
i Rom. 16:25.
17 As such the apostle calls the doctrine of the Gospel, because the same was never found out by any human wisdom, but was hidden from them, until God revealed it by His prophets and apostles.
j 1 Cor. 4:1.
18 Namely, wisdom of God; whereby is either understood the Person of Christ, Who in 1 Cor. 1:24 is also called the Wisdom of God; or, the mysteries of our salvation purposed by God in Christ, and afterwards revealed in the Gospel unto our glory, Luke 2:32. Both well agree with that which follows.
19 Gr. before the ages.
8Whichk20none of the princes of this world knew: forl had they known it, they would not have crucified 21the Lord of glory.
k Mat. 11:25; John 7:48; Acts 13:27; 2 Cor. 3:14.
20 Namely, by their own natural reason or understanding, how great and how acute so ever it was. Such as were Herod, Pilate, Caiaphas, and other mighty ones in this world, as also the philosophers, scribes, and such like. Otherwise Abraham also by God’s Spirit and revelation saw His day, John 8:56, and David rejoiced therein, Psalm 16:9, with other godly kings and prophets, Luke 10:24, and also some of the rulers of the Jews, as Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathæa knew Him; but these were few, and consented not unto His death, Luke 23:51. See the like phrase, John 3:32.
l John 16:3; Acts 3:17; 13:27; 1 Tim. 1:13.
21 Namely, Who is the Head captain of this wisdom of God. So Christ is called in respect of His Divine nature, Psalm 24:7; Acts 7:2, Who was crucified according to His human nature. See the like phrase, John 3:13; Acts 3:15, and 20:28.
9But as it is written, Eyem hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered 22into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
m Isa. 64:4.
22 These words the apostle interposes for further explication of the previous prophetical words, to show that the mysteries of the Gospel, and the greatness of the glory which God has prepared for His faithful ones hereafter, are so excellent, that not only no eye and no ear, but even no understanding was ever able of itself to think of them, or to understand them. See 1 Peter 1:10, 11, 12.
10Butn God hath revealed them 23unto us by 24his Spirit: for the Spirit 25searcheth all things, yea, 26the deep things of God.
n Mat. 13:11; 2 Cor. 3:18.
23 Namely, who love God. For since the apostle speaks not only of the apostles, but also of them who believe in Christ through their word, appears from what follows.
24 Namely, Who by the Word, and with the Word is powerful in us. See 2 Cor. 3:8; 1 John 2:27.
25 This the apostle says, not as if the Holy Spirit, Who dwells in us, were ignorant of any Divine thing, which He must seek to know, but because even the deepest of God are clearly known to Him, as being the same God with the Father and with the Son; as God is said to search the hearts and reins, because they are naked and known before Him, Rom. 8:27; Rev. 2:23.
26 That is, the most secret counsel of God. See Isa. 40:13.
11Foro what man knoweth the things of a man, save 27the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth 28no man, but the Spirit of God.
o Prov. 29:19; Jer. 17:9.
27 That is, the reasonable soul and the understanding of man knows what is in them. See 1 John 3:20.
28 Namely, among the creatures. For the Son knows the Father, and the Father the Son, Mat. 11:27, and here also the Holy Spirit, as one only God with the Father and the Son, Rom. 8:27.
12Now we have received, not the spirit 29of the world, butp the spirit 30which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely 31given to us of God.
29 That is, which teaches worldly things, and has its delight, or places its happiness in worldly things.
p Rom. 8:15.
30 That is, Who proceeds from God, and is promised and given to His children, John 14:16; Rom. 8:15.
31 Namely, for our comfort and salvation, that is, Christ and His benefits, Rom. 8:32; Col. 2:9, 10.
13Which things also we speak, notq in the 32words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost 33teacheth; 34comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
q verse 4; 1 Cor. 1:17; 2 Peter 1:16.
32 Or, reasoning, motive.
33 Namely, in His Divine inspirations and writings, not decked up with human eloquence, but powerful in its spiritual simplicity.
34 Or, conjoining. Gr. judging together, that is, as the doctrine is spiritual, so we propound it also, not with worldly, but with spiritual words.
14But 35the natural man 36receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are 37foolishness unto him: neither 38can he know them, because they are spiritually 39discerned.
35 Gr. the sensual man, that is, he that has no other or higher wisdom, than which the light of nature and human reason teaches him. See Jude verse 19.
36 Namely, to receive the same, and to appropriate them to himself for salvation, Rom. 8:5. See an example, Acts 17:18, and 25:19.
37 See 1 Cor. 1:21, 22, 23.
38 Namely, but by the grace and power of God’s Spirit, Who enlightens the understanding and opens the heart, Acts 16:14.
39 Gr. judged, that is, distinguished with judgment from human and worldly doctrines.
15Butr40he that is spiritual judgeth 41all things, yet he himself 42is judged of 43no man.
r Prov. 28:5.
40 That is, he who is enlightened and regenerated by the Spirit of God.
41 Namely, necessary unto salvation. For even believers sometimes err indeed in some things, but which are not so needful to salvation; or, when they do not sufficiently stir up this gift of discerning by diligence and prayers. See John 10:4, 27; 1 Thes. 5:21; 1 John 4:1.
42 Or, discerned, that is, discerned with judgment, as verse 14.
43 Namely, who is not regenerate or is spiritual; otherwise the spirit of the prophets must also be subject to the prophets; 1 Cor. 14:29, 32.
16Fors who hath known 44the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have 45the mind of Christ.
s Isa. 40:13; Rom. 11:34.
44 Or, the spirit of the LORD, as is expressed in Isa. 40:13, where these words appear; that is, the sense or meaning of the Spirit of the Lord, Rom. 8:27.
45 That is, the meaning of Christ is made known to us by His Word and by His Spirit, as is declared earlier in verses 10, 12.