1 Corinthians 2

1 Corinthians 2 is the second chapter of 1 Corinthians. It carries forward the contrast between "the preaching of the cross" and worldly wisdom introduced in 1 Corinthians 1, developing it through Paul's own experience as a preacher of the gospel and through the revelation of the Spirit. The discussion leads into the problem of factions addressed in 1 Corinthians 3.

Outline

• Verses 1–5 Paul recalls that when he first came to Corinth, he determined to preach only Christ crucified, not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, and that he preached in weakness and fear, yet in demonstration of the Spirit and of power. His purpose was that their faith should rest not in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.
• Verses 6–9 The wisdom spoken "among them that are perfect" is not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought, but the hidden wisdom of God. Paul says that had the princes of this world known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory, and he quotes what is written: that God has prepared things which eye has not seen nor ear heard.
• Verses 10–16 God has revealed these things by his Spirit. Just as the spirit of a man knows what is within him, so only the Spirit of God knows the things of God. The natural man regards the things of the Spirit as foolishness, but he that is spiritual discerns them. The chapter closes with the declaration, "we have the mind of Christ."

Key Verses

• 1 Corinthians 2:2 "For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified" — a verse that distills the heart of Paul's gospel preaching.
• 1 Corinthians 2:4–5 "That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God" — cited to emphasize the work of the Holy Spirit over human technique in preaching and evangelism.
• 1 Corinthians 2:14 "But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God" — used as a basis for the teaching that the illumination of the Holy Spirit is necessary to understand revelation.

People and Places

• Paul: The apostle who wrote this letter; the "I" of the text.
• Corinth: A port city in southern Greece, home to the church that received the letter.

Points for Reflection

• The quotation in verse 9 resembles Isaiah 64:4, but the wording does not match exactly, and there are several views regarding its precise source.
• Verse 9 is often quoted as a description of heaven, yet verse 10 immediately states that God "hath revealed" these things by his Spirit. Accordingly, some interpret the verse as referring to the heaven that is to come, while others take it to refer to the wisdom of God that has already been revealed.
• Pentecostal and charismatic readers often understand the "demonstration of the Spirit and of power" in verse 4 to include signs and healings. Other interpreters see it as the Spirit's work of bringing those who heard the gospel to assurance.
• Regarding the "natural man" and "he that is spiritual" in verses 14–15, some interpreters see a distinction between unbelievers and believers, while others see a distinction between stages of maturity among believers. The question is discussed in connection with 3:1–3, which goes on to call believers "carnal."
• Verse 16 quotes Isaiah 40:13, a verse also cited in Romans 11:34. Paul's attitude of glorying in the cross also connects with Galatians 6:14.

In the Korean Church

Verse 2 is frequently used as a sermon text emphasizing the "gospel of the cross," and verse 9 is often quoted at funeral services and in sermons on the theme of heaven.