Spiritual Wisdom and the Mind of Christ
1 Corinthians 2:6-16
1Cor.2.6 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Σοφιαν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- δε: CONJ
- λαλουμεν: VERB,pres,act,ind,1,pl
- εν: PREP
- τοις: ART,dat,pl,n
- τελειοις: ADJ,dat,pl,m
- σοφιαν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- δε: CONJ
- ου: PART,neg
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- αιωνος: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- τουτου: DEM,gen,sg,m
- ουδε: CONJ,neg
- των: ART,gen,pl,m
- αρχοντων: NOUN,gen,pl,m
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- αιωνος: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- τουτου: DEM,gen,sg,m
- των: ART,gen,pl,m
- καταργουμενων·: PART,pres,pass,gen,pl,m
Parallels
- 1 Corinthians 1:20-31 (verbal): Same sustained contrast between God's wisdom and the 'wisdom of this age'; Paul argues that the supposed wise and powerful of this age are shown up by God's saving wisdom.
- 1 Corinthians 3:19 (verbal): Direct verbal/thematic echo: 'For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God,' reinforcing that worldly rulers' wisdom is ultimately worthless.
- James 3:13-17 (thematic): Contrast between earthly/unspiritual wisdom and wisdom from above; emphasizes true wisdom’s divine origin and moral fruits, paralleling Paul’s distinction.
- Colossians 2:8 (thematic): Warning against being taken captive by 'philosophy' and human tradition of the age—similar critique of worldly systems of thought and authority as inadequate.
- Isaiah 29:14 (allusion): Prophetic declaration that God will confound human wisdom; Paul alludes to this theme (explicitly in 1 Cor 1:19) when denying the ultimate value of the rulers’ wisdom of the age.
Alternative generated candidates
- Yet we speak wisdom among the mature—though not a wisdom of this age nor of the rulers of this age, who are passing away.
- Yet we speak wisdom among the mature—not the wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing.
1Cor.2.7 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- αλλα: CONJ
- λαλουμεν: VERB,pres,act,ind,1,pl
- θεου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- σοφιαν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- εν: PREP
- μυστηριω: NOUN,dat,sg,n
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- αποκεκρυμμενην: PART,perf,pass,acc,sg,f
- ην: VERB,impf,act,ind,3,sg
- προωρισεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- θεος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- προ: PREP
- των: ART,gen,pl,m
- αιωνων: NOUN,gen,pl,m
- εις: PREP
- δοξαν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- ημων·: PRON,gen,pl,1
Parallels
- Eph.3.9-11 (thematic): Speaks of the 'mystery' and the manifold wisdom of God hidden in God and now revealed, with a purpose established before the ages—closely parallels the idea of God's hidden wisdom ordained for our glory.
- Col.1.26-27 (verbal): Explicitly calls the wisdom a 'mystery hidden for ages and generations' now revealed to the saints, and ties the mystery to 'Christ in you, the hope of glory,' echoing 1 Cor 2:7's 'hidden wisdom' destined for our glory.
- Rom.16.25-26 (verbal): Speaks of the 'mystery' kept secret through long ages and now revealed and made known, using language very similar to Paul’s description of hidden wisdom revealed in his apostolic ministry.
- Col.2.2-3 (verbal): Affirms that 'all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge' are hidden in Christ, resonating with 1 Cor 2:7's theme of divine wisdom hidden and now disclosed in Christ for believers.
- Mark.4.11 (cf. Matt.13.11) (allusion): Jesus says the secrets (mysteries) of the kingdom are given to the disciples but not to others—parallel theme of a revealed mystery known to God's people rather than to the world.
Alternative generated candidates
- But we speak God's wisdom in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory.
- But we speak God's wisdom in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God decreed before the ages for our glory.
1Cor.2.8 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ην: VERB,impf,act,ind,3,sg
- ουδεις: PRON,nom,sg,m
- των: ART,gen,pl,m
- αρχοντων: NOUN,gen,pl,m
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- αιωνος: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- τουτου: DEM,gen,sg,m
- εγνωκεν: VERB,perf,act,ind,3,sg
- ει: VERB,pres,act,ind,2,sg
- γαρ: PART
- εγνωσαν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,pl
- ουκ: PART,neg
- αν: PART
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- κυριον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- δοξης: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- εσταυρωσαν·: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,pl
Parallels
- Acts 4:25-28 (thematic): The apostles place the crucifixion in the context of rulers and others conspiring against Jesus—paralleling Paul’s point that the leaders of the age acted in ignorance/hostility in crucifying the Lord.
- 1 Corinthians 1:19-25 (structural): Earlier in the same letter Paul contrasts human wisdom and power with the folly of the cross; 2:8 develops this by saying the rulers of the age did not understand and therefore crucified the Lord of glory.
- Colossians 2:15 (thematic): Speaks of Christ disarming and triumphing over 'rulers and authorities' through his cross—relates to 2:8’s depiction of earthly rulers who crucified him yet are defeated by that very event.
- Ephesians 3:10 (thematic): God’s manifold wisdom is disclosed to 'the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places,' which contrasts with Paul’s claim that the present age’s rulers failed to recognize the Lord of glory.
- John 12:31-33 (allusion): Jesus speaks of the 'ruler of this world' being judged and being 'lifted up' (a reference to crucifixion) — thematically linked to Paul’s statement about the rulers of this age and the salvific, paradoxical meaning of the cross.
Alternative generated candidates
- None of the rulers of this age understood it; for had they understood, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
- None of the rulers of this age understood; for had they understood, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
1Cor.2.9 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- αλλα: CONJ
- καθως: CONJ
- γεγραπται·Α: VERB,perf,pas,ind,3,sg
- οφθαλμος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- ουκ: PART,neg
- ειδεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- και: CONJ
- ους: PRON,acc,pl,m
- ουκ: PART,neg
- ηκουσεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- και: CONJ
- επι: PREP
- καρδιαν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- ανθρωπου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- ουκ: PART,neg
- ανεβη: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- οσα: PRON,acc,pl,n
- ητοιμασεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- θεος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- τοις: ART,dat,pl,n
- αγαπωσιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,pl
- αυτον: PRON,acc,sg,m
Parallels
- Isaiah 64:4 (quotation): 1 Cor 2:9 directly cites the Septuagint rendering of Isaiah 64:4 (’eye hath not seen… ear hath not heard…’), using the prophetic language to claim God has prepared unimaginable things for those who love him.
- Isaiah 65:17 (allusion): Isaiah 65:17 speaks of God creating ‘new heavens and a new earth’—a prophetic theme of divine works beyond current human experience that parallels Paul’s emphasis on realities God prepares beyond human sight or hearing.
- Romans 8:18 (thematic): Paul’s statement that present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory to be revealed echoes the idea of a future, surpassing reality prepared by God that exceeds current perception.
- Ephesians 3:20 (thematic): Ephesians 3:20’s claim that God is able to do ‘immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine’ parallels 1 Cor 2:9’s stress on God’s plans surpassing human sight, hearing, and imagination.
- Revelation 21:1-5 (thematic): Revelation’s vision of God making all things new and wiping away every tear presents the consummate fulfillment of extraordinary realities God has prepared—an eschatological counterpart to Paul’s assertion about the unseen things prepared for God’s people.
Alternative generated candidates
- As it is written, "What no eye has seen, no ear has heard, and what has not entered into the heart of man—what God has prepared for those who love him."
- But as it is written, "What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor has entered into the heart of man—what God has prepared for those who love him."
1Cor.2.10 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ημιν: PRON,dat,pl,1
- γαρ: PART
- απεκαλυψεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- θεος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- δια: PREP
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- πνευματος: NOUN,gen,sg,n
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- γαρ: PART
- πνευμα: NOUN,acc,sg,n
- παντα: ADJ,nom,pl,n
- εραυνα: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- και: CONJ
- τα: ART,acc,pl,n
- βαθη: NOUN,acc,pl,n
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- θεου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
Parallels
- John 16:13-15 (thematic): The Spirit's role in revealing truth and declaring what is from the Father and Son parallels Paul’s claim that God has revealed divine realities through the Spirit.
- John 14:26 (verbal): The Spirit is said to teach and bring to remembrance ‘all things,’ echoing Paul’s language that the Spirit searches and discloses the depths.
- 1 John 2:27 (verbal): The anointing of the Spirit ‘teaches you about all things,’ which corresponds closely to the idea that the Spirit reveals God’s deep truths to believers.
- Romans 8:26-27 (verbal): Paul speaks of the Spirit’s intimate knowledge and intercession and uses the verb for ‘search’ (ἐραυνάω) concerning hearts—paralleling 1 Cor 2:10’s assertion that the Spirit searches all things, including God’s depths.
- Isaiah 40:13 (allusion): The rhetorical question about who has known the mind of the LORD underlies Paul’s point (and is later cited in 1 Cor 2:16), supporting the theme that divine counsel is disclosed only by God’s Spirit.
Alternative generated candidates
- God revealed these things to us by the Spirit; for the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God.
- But God has revealed these things to us by the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God.
1Cor.2.11 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- τις: PRON,nom,sg,?
- γαρ: PART
- οιδεν: VERB,perf,act,ind,3,sg
- ανθρωπων: NOUN,gen,pl,m
- τα: ART,acc,pl,n
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- ανθρωπου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- ει: VERB,pres,act,ind,2,sg
- μη: PART
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- πνευμα: NOUN,acc,sg,n
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- ανθρωπου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- εν: PREP
- αυτω: PRON,dat,sg,m
- ουτως: ADV
- και: CONJ
- τα: ART,acc,pl,n
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- θεου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- ουδεις: PRON,nom,sg,m
- εγνωκεν: VERB,perf,act,ind,3,sg
- ει: VERB,pres,act,ind,2,sg
- μη: PART
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- πνευμα: NOUN,acc,sg,n
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- θεου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
Parallels
- 1 Corinthians 2:10-14 (structural): Immediate context developing the same argument: God’s Spirit alone searches and reveals God’s wisdom to believers, contrasted with the limits of human spirit.
- Romans 8:16 (thematic): Both verses link the Spirit to the human spirit and speak of the Spirit’s witness/knowledge of divine realities (the Spirit testifies with/for our spirit).
- John 16:13 (thematic): Describes the Spirit’s role in revealing truth and guiding into all truth, paralleling the claim that only God’s Spirit knows God’s things.
- Isaiah 40:13 (allusion): Rhetorical question about who has directed or understood the counsel of the LORD—anticipates Paul’s assertion that no one knows God’s mind except God’s Spirit.
- Job 32:8 (verbal): Speaks of a spirit in man and the inspiration/breath of the Almighty giving understanding, paralleling the contrast between human spirit and divine Spirit’s knowledge.
Alternative generated candidates
- For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man that is in him? So also the thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God.
- For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man that is in him? So too, no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.
1Cor.2.12 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ημεις: PRON,nom,pl,1
- δε: CONJ
- ου: PART,neg
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- πνευμα: NOUN,acc,sg,n
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- κοσμου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- ελαβομεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,1,pl
- αλλα: CONJ
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- πνευμα: NOUN,acc,sg,n
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- εκ: PREP
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- θεου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- ινα: CONJ
- ειδωμεν: VERB,aor,act,subj,1,pl
- τα: ART,acc,pl,n
- υπο: PREP
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- θεου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- χαρισθεντα: PART,aor,pass,acc,pl,n
- ημιν·: PRON,dat,pl,1
Parallels
- John 14:17 (thematic): Contrasts 'spirit of the world' with the Spirit from God; Jesus describes the Spirit (the Spirit of truth) as not of the world and present with/ in believers, echoing Paul’s contrast.
- John 16:13 (thematic): The Spirit guides believers into all truth and declares what is to come—parallels Paul’s claim that the Spirit enables understanding of the things God has given.
- Romans 8:9 (verbal): Speaks of having the Spirit of God/Christ and contrasts belonging to the Spirit with not belonging to the flesh/world—language and theological point about source and identity of the believer’s Spirit echo 1 Cor 2:12.
- 1 Corinthians 2:10-11 (structural): Immediate context: the Spirit searches the depths of God and reveals God’s gifts to us—this explains the purpose and function of the Spirit mentioned in v.12.
- 1 Corinthians 2:14 (thematic): Provides the complementary contrast: the 'natural' (psychikos) person cannot accept things of the Spirit, underscoring Paul’s point that understanding God’s gifts requires the Spirit from God.
Alternative generated candidates
- Now we have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, so that we might know the things freely given to us by God.
- Now we have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given to us by God.
1Cor.2.13 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- α: PRON,nom,sg,n
- και: CONJ
- λαλουμεν: VERB,pres,act,ind,1,pl
- ουκ: PART,neg
- εν: PREP
- διδακτοις: ADJ,dat,pl,m
- ανθρωπινης: ADJ,gen,sg,f
- σοφιας: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- λογοις: NOUN,dat,pl,m
- αλλ᾽εν: CONJ
- διδακτοις: ADJ,dat,pl,m
- πνευματος: NOUN,gen,sg,n
- πνευματικοις: ADJ,dat,pl,m
- πνευματικα: ADJ,acc,pl,n
- συγκρινοντες: VERB,pres,act,part,nom,pl,m
Parallels
- 1Cor.2.10-12 (verbal): Immediate context: Paul develops the same point that the Spirit—not human wisdom—reveals God's deep things; shares vocabulary (Spirit, revealed, know) and argument about Spirit-origin of apostolic insight.
- 1Cor.1.17-25 (thematic): Contrasts human wisdom with God's wisdom in the cross; complements 2:13's rejection of 'words of human wisdom' and affirmation of Spirit-taught truth.
- John 14:26 (thematic): Jesus promises the Holy Spirit will teach and remind the disciples—parallels the claim that Christian instruction comes from the Spirit rather than merely human teachers.
- John 16:13 (thematic): The Spirit guiding into all truth and speaking what He hears from the Father aligns with Paul's emphasis that Christian teaching is Spirit-originated and authoritative.
- 2Pet.1.21 (allusion): Asserts that prophetic/authoritative speech is produced by men moved by the Holy Spirit, echoing Paul’s point that Christian message is not from human wisdom but from the Spirit.
Alternative generated candidates
- Which things also we speak, not in words taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths in spiritual words.
- And we speak these things, not in words taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual truths with spiritual words.
1Cor.2.14 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Ψυχικος: ADJ,nom,sg,m
- δε: CONJ
- ανθρωπος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- ου: PART,neg
- δεχεται: VERB,pres,mid/pass,ind,3,sg
- τα: ART,acc,pl,n
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- πνευματος: NOUN,gen,sg,n
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- θεου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- μωρια: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- γαρ: PART
- αυτω: PRON,dat,sg,m
- εστιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- και: CONJ
- ου: PART,neg
- δυναται: VERB,pres,mid,ind,3,sg
- γνωναι: VERB,aor,act,inf
- οτι: CONJ
- πνευματικως: ADV
- ανακρινεται·: VERB,pres,pass,ind,3,sg
Parallels
- 1 Corinthians 3:1-3 (verbal): Uses the same term ψυχικός (natural/carnal) and contrasts 'ψυχικούς' with 'πνευματικούς'—echoes the carnal vs. spiritual distinction in 2:14.
- Romans 8:6-8 (thematic): Contrasts being 'mindful of the flesh' (carnal) with being 'mindful of the Spirit' and states that the carnal mind cannot please God—parallels inability of the natural person to receive spiritual truths.
- John 3:6 (thematic): Distinguishes what is 'born of the flesh' and what is 'born of the Spirit,' underpinning the biblical dichotomy between natural (ψυχικός) and spiritual reception of truth.
- 1 Corinthians 1:18-25 (allusion): Theme of God's wisdom appearing as 'foolishness' to the world (μωρία/folly) parallels 2:14's statement that spiritual things are 'folly' to the natural person.
- 1 Corinthians 2:15 (structural): Within the same argument: the 'spiritual person' is able to 'judge' or discern all things—this complements 2:14's claim that the natural person cannot understand because discernment is spiritual.
Alternative generated candidates
- The person without the Spirit does not accept the things of God's Spirit—for they are foolishness to him—and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.
- The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.
1Cor.2.15 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- δε: CONJ
- πνευματικος: ADJ,nom,sg,m
- ανακρινει: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- τα: ART,acc,pl,n
- παντα: ADJ,nom,pl,n
- αυτος: PRON,nom,sg,3,m
- δε: CONJ
- υπ᾽ουδενος: PREP,gen
- ανακρινεται: VERB,pres,pass,ind,3,sg
Parallels
- 1 Corinthians 2:14 (thematic): Direct contrast: 2:14 describes the 'natural' (ψυχικός) person who cannot receive spiritual things, setting up 2:15 where the 'spiritual' person judges/diserns all things.
- 1 Corinthians 2:16 (verbal): Immediate continuation: 'we have the mind of Christ' (ὁ νοῦς τοῦ Χριστοῦ) undergirds the claim that the spiritual person can judge/discern.
- 1 Corinthians 6:2-3 (thematic): Affirms that believers/saints will judge the world and even angels, echoing the idea that the spiritually discerning person has authority to 'judge all things.'
- 1 Corinthians 4:3-4 (verbal): Paul's statement that he is not judged by human standards ('οὐκ ἀνακρινόμεθα ὑμᾶς' / 'οὐδὲ ἀνακρίνω ἑμαυτόν') parallels 2:15's claim that the spiritual person is judged by no one.
Alternative generated candidates
- But the spiritual person judges all things, yet he himself is judged by no one.
- The spiritual person judges all things, yet he himself is judged by no one.
1Cor.2.16 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- τις: PRON,nom,sg,?
- γαρ: PART
- εγνω: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- νουν: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- κυριου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- ος: PRON,nom,sg,m
- συμβιβασει: VERB,fut,act,ind,3,sg
- αυτον: PRON,acc,sg,m
- ημεις: PRON,nom,pl,1
- δε: CONJ
- νουν: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- Χριστου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- εχομεν: VERB,pres,act,ind,1,pl
Parallels
- Isaiah 40:13 (quotation): Paul echoes/quotes the OT question about who can 'know the mind of the LORD' (LXX wording) as the source contrast for 'we have the mind of Christ.'
- Romans 11:34 (quotation): Paul repeats the same OT citation ('Who has known the mind of the Lord?') in a different argument, showing his reliance on the Isaiah tradition.
- 1 Corinthians 2:11 (structural): Immediate contextual parallel: v.11 makes the analogous point about human/Divine knowledge—'who knows a person's thoughts except the spirit of the person'—framing v.16's contrast between human and divine insight.
- Philippians 2:5 (thematic): Uses closely related language and concept—'have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus'—reflecting the ethical and Christological significance of possessing 'the mind of Christ.'
Alternative generated candidates
- For who has known the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.
- For who has known the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.
Yet we speak wisdom among the mature—not the wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age who are being brought to nothing. But we speak God's wisdom in a mystery—the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory.
None of the rulers of this age understood; for if they had understood, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. But as it is written, 'What eye has not seen, and ear has not heard, and what has not entered into the heart of man—what God has prepared for those who love him.' But God has revealed these things to us through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God.
For who among men knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man that is in him? So also no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, so that we might understand the gifts freely given us by God. And we speak these things not in words taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual truths with spiritual words.
The natural person does not receive the things of the Spirit of God; they are folly to him, and he cannot know them because they are spiritually discerned. But the one who is spiritual discerns all things, yet he himself is judged by no one.
For 'who has known the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?' But we have the mind of Christ.