1 Corinthians 2:6-16
About the Text
What does this passage have to do with the quarreling that Paul was addressing in the previous passages? In this passage, Paul explains how their fighting won't be resolved through the latest philosophy, but rather through the message of salvation through Jesus Christ. Today, it is easy to chase after the latest seminar, book, or psychologist to help our relationships, while ignoring the power of understanding the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The truth is that those who genuinely understand their sin, and believe that Jesus' death on the cross takes away their sin, and be convinced of God's enormous love, will automatically begin to love others more. (See 1 John 4:7-21)
(6) Who are the "mature" whom the writer Paul is referring to? All Christians. Paul describes the "mature" further in the subsequent verses. They have received the Spirit (v. 12). They are called the "spiritual" (v. 15). They are referred to in v. 7, "...for our glory...;" verse 10, "...revealed it to us...:" and verse 12, "...we have received the Spirit..." In other words, Paul was speaking to the whole church, not just those who were spiritually more advanced than others.
(6) What does "wisdom of this age" mean? In the days that this letter was written, it meant non-Christian philosophies such as Epicurianism and Stoicism. It was the intellectual "in thing" to do, to sit around talking about the latest philosophies. See Acts 17:21. Today, we could apply this phrase to many of the latest self-help fads found in seminars, TV ads, and the back of magazines. Slick "gurus" claim to have the answer to financial freedom, happiness, success, and relationships. But if these teachings are not in harmony with the Scriptures, then they are "wisdom of this age" and not "God's wisdom." Inevitably, such "wisdom" comes to nothing.
(7) What is God's "secret" wisdom? It is the gospel story of Jesus Christ, who came to save the world. It is called "secret" because before Jesus rose from the dead, no one really understood why He came and how He would save believers. Not even His disciples understood why He had to die on a cross until He was finally resurrected. And to the world, Jesus was just another radical troublemaker. So why didn't the whole world run right away to accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior? Why don't they understand the joy of becoming a Christian? Because Paul explains that God purposely keeps the truth hidden from some and reveals it to others.
(8) Who are the "rulers of this age"? Paul is referring to the Roman governor Pontius Pilate, King Herod, and the high priest Caiaphas who put Jesus to death. Today, this term can also refer to any unbelieving political figure of authority.
(8) What is it about Jesus Christ that the world fails to understand? It is hard for us to fully understand how Jesus Christ is the way of salvation to those who believe. People, especially today, still think that we have to work our way up to God, either by chalking up more religious "brownie points," or by praying more, giving more, reading more, or serving harder. Even though preachers drill into us that "God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life," it still doesn't sink in. If it did, our lives would show it. It is difficult for us fully understand how grand is God's plan, how evil is our sin, how total our depravity, how perfect is God's love, how humiliating was Jesus' death, how scandalous was the cross, how powerful was His resurrection, how complete is His forgiveness, how amazing is His grace, how rich is his spirit, and how great is our salvation. It is so hard to understand these things on our own, that we need God's help.
(13) What are "words taught by the Spirit"? When we explain the way of salvation through Jesus Christ, God's Holy Spirit gives us not only the thoughts and concepts for us to explain, but also the words we are to explain with. Telling someone about Jesus is sometimes scary, but the Spirit guides us. See John 16:12-15 and Luke 12:11-12.
(14) What does it mean that the things from God are "spiritually discerned?" It means that one can recognize, or discern, a teaching as being of God only if he has the Spirit to enable him.
(15) What does it mean that the spiritual man is "not subject to any man's judgment?" It means that an unbeliever's criticism of a believer is invalid, or "doesn't count," because the unbeliever has no capability of understanding the believer's actions and beliefs. The world, for example, might call some Christians "holy rollers" or "fanatics" because they don't understand the Christian's faith.
(16) What is the meaning of the phrase "for who has known the mind of the Lord"? In other words, Paul is saying, "Unbelievers who mock and judge you - how would they know what God thinks?"
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