The Wisdom of God
—1Corinthians 2
Paul was utterly dedicated to his ministry as an apostle of Jesus Christ. His preaching was without charisma, but not without substance. In this chapter (1Corinthians 2) Paul defends his message and states its credentials.
1 The Message of the Cross
Verses 1-5.
Paul acknowledged that his presence was in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. However, he insisted that his preaching was made powerful by the Holy Spirit.
Paul’s ministry honoured "Jesus Christ and him crucified". Paul stuck to that, keeping all his teaching and testimony connected to Christ’s sacrifice on the cross. Paul identified what he preached as "The message of the cross", because the cross was his focus whatever his topic (1Corinthians 1:18).
So Paul had a reason for preaching the cross, namely, "That your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God" (1Corinthians 2:5).
2 An Old Mystery Revealed
Verses 6-12.
Paul presents his gospel as the revelation of God’s wisdom ordained before the ages. He does not present his gospel as a new doctrine, as might be expected.
Paul explains that previously God’s wisdom was hidden in a mystery. Now at last this wisdom has been revealed clearly to Paul and the other apostles.
The wisdom of men did not recognise the wisdom of God. What God intended did not enter into the heart of man. In that ignorance, they crucified the Lord of Glory.
However Paul further explains that the Holy Spirit knew God’s intention because the Spirit knows the mind of God fully —even the deep things of God (1Corinthians 2:10).
3 Words the Spirit Teaches
Verses 13-15.
So Paul claimed that his spoken words were not of human origin. He was taught them by the Spirit of God who revealed the gospel to him.
Paul was not taught only ideas and principles which he then expressed independently, in his own way and his own words. Rather, he was given "words which the Holy Spirit teaches" (1Corinthians 2:13)
The natural man of flesh could not understand the things of God, but the spirit of man, with a love of God, had the judgment needed to discern the wisdom in the things of God.
4 The Mind of Christ
Verse 16.
Paul asks whether anyone knows the mind of the Lord such that they can offer him instruction. Of course Paul does not expect us to say yes to that.
Then Paul says, "But we have the mind of Christ". We can know the mind of the Lord through the inspired words of Paul and others who received revelation —not to counsel the Lord, but rather that the Lord may instruct us.
Paul does not mean that all the mind of Christ has been revealed, because his mind is the infinite mind of God. However all the wisdom has been revealed that is necessary to gain eternal life.
Wisdom Reveals a Mystery
¶We speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom ordained by God before the Ages, for our glory (1Corinthians 2:7).