Verses 1-2 And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. 2 For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.
The Apostle Paul was in Corinth for one reason only, and that was to share the Gospel. He was not interested in knowing the people and their sins or good works or disputes or family histories. He did not want to be influenced by anything other than the knowledge of salvation through the blood of Jesus Christ being offered to all who would listen and obey. He did not pretend to be anything other than what he was: a servant of the LORD Jesus Christ. He did not try to win the Corinthian’s approval through his oration or his intelligence.
Verses 3-5 And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. 4 And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: 5 That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.
The Greek word translated as “weakness” is “astheneia” and it means want of strength, infirmity, frailty, or to bear trials and troubles. The Greek word translated as “fear” is “phobos” from which the English word phobia comes, and it means fear, dread, or terror. The Greek word translated as “trembling” is “tromos” and it means a trembling or quaking with fear, or to describe the anxiety of one who distrusts his ability completely to meet all requirements but does his utmost to fulfil his duty. The Apostle Paul ministered to the Corinthians in difficult circumstances due to the religious and social climate of Corinth and due to the persecution by the Jews that followed him wherever he went. He again states that his preaching was not with the wisdom of man but through the power of the Holy Ghost/Spirit.
Verse 6 Howbeit 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:
The Greek word translated as “perfect” is “teleios” and it means perfect, of full age, brought to its end, finished, wanting nothing necessary to completeness, mature, or full grown. The Apostle Paul was not presenting the wisdom of this world which is devilish and which means nothing, but he was presenting God’s wisdom. And those people who could understand it were those who were both physically mature and spiritually mature.
Verses 7-8 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: 8 Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
God’s wisdom remains hidden or a mystery to those who are not born again and in the Kingdom of God. Everything that mankind claims to know is merely the tip of God’s wisdom that has been discovered or revealed down through time. Man claims to, through science, create things such as chemical reactions and new materials. But the components of these “created things” were made by God and already available to mankind to tinker with. No man or woman has ever created anything. To create is to make something from nothing, and the only One who has done that is the LORD Jesus Christ, God very God, who created out of nothing just by speaking into existence the Earth, the seas, the sun and moon and stars, and every living thing on Earth, under the Earth and above the Earth. Along with the mystery of Creation is the mystery of salvation and life eternal in Heaven which was ordained before the Creation and the beginning of time, and which mankind, without the LORD, cannot comprehend. Why the God of all that is would descend from Heaven to clothe Himself in a body of flesh and die a terrible death so that mankind can have freedom from the bonds of sin and devils and have the hope of resurrection from the dead and life with Him forever is beyond comprehension and has to be accepted on faith.
Verse 9 But 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.
Application: This is one of the most beautiful verses in the Bible. Mankind does not have the mental capacity or capability to imagine what Heaven will be like as mankind is bound by time and space and by experience. Even the most beautiful flower on Earth will not compare to the flowers in Heaven, and the new Earth that is being prepared cannot be understood as the Earth mankind is living on now has been tainted by sin and is all that people have seen and experienced. The Apostle Paul reported being transported in the spirit to the third Heaven where he saw things he could not even speak about. Think about it. For the Christian believer, there should be an excitement and an expectation about going “home” and leaving this sin filled and corrupted world for eternity in Heaven with the LORD Jesus Christ.
Verses 10-11 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. 11 For 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.
For those people filled with the Holy Ghost/Spirit, there is a gradual revealing of some of the hidden things of God, depending on the need. Understanding the physical world has been opening slowly, but the more mankind learns about the physical world, the more questions arise without answers. Copernicus, at the behest of the Catholic Institution, developed the heliocentric model of space placing the sun in the middle of the solar system with planets, including Earth, swirling around the sun. But suddenly, the planet Pluto was deemed to no longer be a planet and removed from the list that most people were indoctrinated with as children in government schools. Science and scientists made a mistake. Their wisdom was faulty. Now, with the advancement of technology it is known by those few who dare to go against the standard belief system that has been taught for hundreds of years that the Earth is the center of everything and that it is stationary with the sun, moon, and stars moving about in the area above the land and sea. Amazingly the Bible states these facts and has done so for thousands of years, but mankind used their own wisdom to change the truth. God’s wisdom is true and everlasting, and consulting Him for answers to questions about the physical world, the spiritual world, social issues, family issues, health issues, and so forth will bring His wisdom into the lives of His people so that they will know the truth and the truth will set them free.
Verses 12-13 Now 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. 13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
One of this writer’s favorite sayings is, “If it isn’t in the Bible, it isn’t true.” The Apostle Paul is saying in the verses above that his focus and a Christian’s focus should be understanding life on this Earth through and with the help of the Spirit of the LORD and not through mankind’s opinions, beliefs, or wisdom. When believers measure everything by the Word of God, they will never make a mistake in judgement. For example, Scripture teaches never to become what would be called today a guarantor, a signer for another’s debt. Why? Because people cannot be trusted for the most part and will fail to pay their debt and the guarantor will have to make good on the loan. Does this happen? Of course it has and it does. Ask parents who have mortgaged their home in order to assist grown children in financial ventures only to be stuck with the financial burden when the children default. Scripture teaches that if money is loaned, it should be loaned without usury. Why? Because God is the provider of money, and what He puts in a believer’s hand is a gift and belongs to Him and not the believer. Therefore, the believer should be willing to share with those who need a helping hand without charging for the good work. God does not charge his children for the good things He provides. His children are to be like Him. Then if the debt is never paid, the money belonged to God and only He has been offended. The believer loaning the money was fully aware that it may never be repaid, had no expectation of repayment and so is not offended if repayment does not occur and is pleasantly surprise if it is repaid. Examples involving money have been given here, but the teachings of Scripture cover every and all aspects of making it successfully through this physical life into the next spiritual life while pleasing the LORD and obeying His commands.
Verses 14-16 But 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. 15 But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. 16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ. (1 Corinthians 2)
These are amazing verses. First, unsaved individuals simply cannot understand Scripture, Christians, or God. Everything relating to the Faith seems stupid to them. Hence the reason why when witnessing to some people it seems that one’s words are falling on deaf ears. If unsaved individuals respond to the Gospel message it is because they have the call of God on their lives and the Holy Ghost/Spirit is showing them truth and calling them to repentance. Then verse 15 states the people walking in the Spirit are able to judge all things by the Word of God. Furthermore, the unsaved cannot judge believers as they do not possess Spiritual knowledge to understand them. And verse 16 states that believers who are walking in the Spirit are conforming to the very person of Jesus Christ and therefore think like Jesus thought. An amazing situation. That is why true Christians can forgive those who trespass against them because they think and act like Jesus Christ who even forgave those who physically harmed and crucified Him. When the Holy Ghost/Spirit dwells inside believers, they have two spirits: the one they were born with and the Spirit of the LORD Jesus Christ. They are like Him.