6Yet among the mature we do impart wisdom, although it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to pass away. (1Co 1:28; 1Co 3:1; Php 3:15; Jas 3:15)7But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glory. (Ro 16:25; Eph 3:5; Eph 3:9; Col 1:26; 2Ti 1:9)8None of the rulers of this age understood this, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. (Ps 24:7; Lu 24:20; Ac 3:17; Ac 7:2; Ac 13:27; Jas 2:1)9But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”— (Isa 64:4; Mt 25:34; Jas 1:12)10these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. (Mt 16:17; Joh 14:26; Ga 1:12; Ga 1:16; Eph 3:3; Eph 3:5; Re 2:24)11For who knows a person’s thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. (Pr 20:27)12Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. (Ro 8:15; 1Jo 4:4)13And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.[4] (1Co 1:17; 1Co 2:1; 1Co 2:4; 2Co 10:12)14The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. (Ro 8:7; 1Co 1:18)15The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one. (Pr 28:5; 1Co 3:1; 1Co 14:37; Ga 6:1)16“For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ. (Isa 40:13; Joh 15:15; Ro 11:34)
1 Corinthians 2
New International Version
1And so it was with me, brothers and sisters. When I came to you, I did not come with eloquence or human wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God.[1]2For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.3I came to you in weakness with great fear and trembling.4My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power,5so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power.
God’s wisdom revealed by the Spirit
6We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing.7No, we declare God’s wisdom, a mystery that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began.8None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.9However, as it is written: ‘What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived’ – the things God has prepared for those who love him – (Isa 64:4)10these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.11For who knows a person’s thoughts except their own spirit within them? In the same way no-one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.12What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us.13This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words.[2]14The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit.15The person with the Spirit makes judgments about all things, but such a person is not subject to merely human judgments,16for, ‘Who has known the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?’ But we have the mind of Christ. (Isa 40:13)
1 Corinthians 2
King James Version
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.
1 Corinthians 2
New International Reader’s Version
1And this was the way it was with me, brothers and sisters. When I came to you, I didn’t come with fancy words or human wisdom. I preached to you the truth about God’s love.2My goal while I was with you was to talk about only one thing. And that was Jesus Christ and his death on the cross.3When I came to you, I was weak and very afraid and trembling all over.4I didn’t preach my message with clever and compelling words. Instead, my preaching showed the Holy Spirit’s power.5This was so that your faith would be based on God’s power. Your faith would not be based on human wisdom.
God’s wisdom through the Holy Spirit
6The words we speak to those who have grown in the faith are wise. Our words are different from the wisdom of this world. Our words are different from those of the rulers of this world. These rulers are becoming less and less powerful.7No, we announce God’s wisdom. His wisdom is a mystery that has been hidden. But before time began, God planned that his wisdom would bring us heavenly glory.8None of the rulers of this world understood God’s wisdom. If they had, they would not have nailed the Lord of glory to the cross.9It is written that ‘no eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no human mind has known.’ God has prepared these things for those who love him. (Isa 64:4)10God has shown these things to us through his Spirit. The Spirit understands all things. He understands even the deep things of God.11Who can know the thoughts of another person? Only a person’s own spirit can know them. In the same way, only the Spirit of God knows God’s thoughts.12What we have received is not the spirit of the world. We have received the Spirit who is from God. The Spirit helps us understand what God has freely given us.13That is what we speak about. We don’t use words taught us by people. We use words taught us by the Holy Spirit. We use the words taught by the Spirit to explain spiritual truths.14The person without the Spirit doesn’t accept the things that come from the Spirit of God. These things are foolish to them. They can’t understand them. In fact, such things can’t be understood without the Spirit’s help.15The person who has the Spirit can judge all things. But no human being can judge those who have the Spirit. It is written,16‘Who can ever know what is in the Lord’s mind? Can anyone ever teach him?’ But we have the mind of Christ. (Isa 40:13)