Paul continues to address the problem of worldly wisdom in the church at Corinth—a problem that puffs people up and leads to division in the body. In the remaining verses of Chapter 2, Paul presents an epistemology. He reveals, basically, what it means to have the wisdom of Christ rather than of the world. 

1 Corinthians 2:6-16

Yet we do speak wisdom among those who are mature; a wisdom, however, not of this age nor of the rulers of this age, who are passing away; but we speak God’s wisdom in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God predestined before the ages to our glory; the wisdom which none of the rulers of this age has understood; for if they had understood it they would not have crucified the Lord of glory; but just as it is written,

“Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard,

And which have not entered the heart of man,

All that God has prepared for those who love Him.”

For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God. For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so the thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God, which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words.

But a natural man 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 appraised. But he who is spiritual appraises all things, yet he himself is appraised by no one. For who has known the mind of the Lord, that he will instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ.

The mystery of the faith (v. 6-9)

Yet we do speak wisdom among those who are mature; a wisdom, however, not of this age nor of the rulers of this age, who are passing away…

Paul claimed to have come to the Corinthians knowing nothing but Christ and Christ crucified. The politics, philosophy, and religion of the world was not the apostle’s content. The gospel was. Here, Paul qualifies his statement. Yet, even though he determines to know nothing but the person and work of Christ, he and the other missionaries do speak wisdom among those who are mature.

Paul clarifies the type of wisdom he speaks. It is neither the wisdom of this age nor of the rulers of this age; they are passing away. Think, for a moment, about all the things the world gets caught up in. It gets caught up in politics, education, careers, wealth, rituals, and health. What do all those things have in common? One day, they will die with the person who dies. They are all temporary. Isn’t it amazing how much time and money people invest into all the things that are temporary, that are passing away. We fight about those things. In a few years, they will all change. The death of a generation marks the death of political, social, cultural, economic, and religious points of view. Yet, those are the things worldly people give themselves to and fight about. No matter how informed we are about things, they are things that are passing away. Therefore, we want to invest in a more permanent wisdom.

…but we speak God’s wisdom in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God predestined before the ages to our glory; the wisdom which none of the rulers of this age has understood…

Paul claims to, with God’s other missionaries, speak God’s wisdom in a mystery. The mystery of the faith is the gospel (cf. Colossians 1:26). The mystery of the faith is not a mystery because it has not been clearly explained. The gospel is explained in the New Testament. It is a mystery because it is hidden. Anytime Paul refers to the mystery of the faith, anytime you read about the mystery of faith in the New Testament, it means the explicit gospel. Paul is not a gnostic that he would espouse the existence of some kind of secret revelation or knowledge.

He claims to proclaim the hidden wisdom that God predestined before the ages to our glory, which is not understood by the rulers of this age (worldly people and nations). Paul explains the hidden wisdom—the explicit gospel. God predestined the gospel before the ages—before time was countable in any meaningful way—an act covenant theologians refer to as the covenant of redemption. He explained the gospel so clearly. Yet, people of the world do not understand it. Here, we encounter the doctrines of depravity and special revelation. God is perfectly clear about the gospel message. Without the regeneration of our hearts, eyes, ears, and minds, we cannot understand the gospel. Consequently, we devote ourselves wholly to the wisdom of the world because we don’t understand the things of God; they are hidden from us because of our human nature, not because God withheld anything about Himself. The gospel is spoken to the glory of those who hear and do understand. The gospel is effective for those who have ears to hear. The gospel accomplishes the glorification of those who have been given ears to hear. Like Paul has already written in 1 Corinthians:

I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given you in Christ Jesus, that in everything you were enriched in Him, in all speech and all knowledge, even as the testimony concerning Christ was confirmed in you, so that you are not lacking in any gift, awaiting eagerly the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will also confirm you to the end, blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 1:4-8).

God completes the work that He starts in us, which we refer to as “perseverance of the saints.” Those who come to Christ will be completed and glorified with Christ.

…for if they had understood it they would not have crucified the Lord of glory; but just as it is written, “Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, And which have not entered the heart of man, All that God has prepared for those who love Him.”

If worldly people understood, according to Paul, they would not have crucified Jesus. Paul quotes Isaiah 64:4 to prove his point from the Old Testament:

For from days of old they have not heard or perceived by ear, Nor has the eye seen a God besides You, Who acts in behalf of the one who waits for Him. You meet him who rejoices in doing righteousness, Who remembers You in Your ways. Behold, You were angry, for we sinned, We continued in them a long time; And shall we be saved? For all of us have become like one who is unclean, And all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment; And all of us wither like a leaf, And our iniquities, like the wind, take us away. There is no one who calls on Your name, Who arouses himself to take hold of You; For You have hidden Your face from us And have delivered us into the power of our iniquities. But now, O Lord, You are our Father, We are the clay, and You our potter; And all of us are the work of Your hand. Do not be angry beyond measure, O Lord, Nor remember iniquity forever; Behold, look now, all of us are Your people (Isaiah 64:4-9).

Despite sin, unrighteousness, depravity, and wretchedness, God redeems His people and everything He does benefits His people because He acts on their behalf. The wisdom of God, explained in the gospel, is the glory of those who are in Christ.

So, it is important for us to know as much about the person and work of Christ as possible. It is a knowledge that worldly people cannot understand, and it will never be extinguished. It is a forever knowledge while all other knowledge passes away. I do not believe that factual or operational knowledge will necessarily disappear, but the things we waste so much energy caring about now will one day not be issues at all. Being a part of a healthy church with truly biblical teaching is a more worthwhile investment than any worldly wisdom. Discipleship only happens in the context of community, which requires more than merely listening to a sermon. The sermon, though essential to church, is only our introduction to discipleship as part of a local church family. Knowing about God isn’t enough. 

The Spirit of the mystery (v. 10-13)

For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God. For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so the thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God, which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words.

How can people possibly learn and profess the mysteries of God? I think Paul makes a great, philosophical point in his argument. We cannot truly know anyone other than ourselves. No matter how much I know about someone else’s behavior, characteristics, preferences, appearance, age, and so on, I do not know anyone’s heart or mind. I can claim to know about you, but I cannot claim to know you as an essential person. The closest I come to knowing anyone else so purely is the knowledge I have of my wife because we have become one through the covenant of marriage. In this way, the relationship a man has with his wife is a picture of the relationship God has with His people—and His special revelation to His people. Only God knows God. People can know about God, but they cannot know His essence—what we call the heart, mind, and/or soul. What makes me think I can know God if I can’t even really know another human person on the level of his or her essential being?

Depravity seems pretty hopeless, doesn’t it? God puts His spirit in His people so people might be illuminated, know Him rather than merely know about Him. Only the Holy Spirit can cause us to effectually know God. We must, so to speak, be born of the Spirit in order to even perceive the essence of God (cf. John 3). We can hear everything about God but never know Him. That is the difference between worldly wisdom and the wisdom of God. I speak to you what I know of the wisdom of God. Unless the Spirit enlivens you, you will only hear things about God. The two are not the same. 

The mystery of the faith is the gospel. Only the movement of the Spirit of God can cause us to understand and receive the gospel. Those who receive the Spirit are given the Spirit so they might know the things God has provided to all people. By God’s common grace, the gospel goes to every nation. By God’s particular grace, He gives the Spirit so some can know it—not merely know about it.

The epistemology of the Spirit (v. 14-16)

But a natural man 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 appraised. But he who is spiritual appraises all things, yet he himself is appraised by no one. For who has known the mind of the Lord, that he will instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ.

Paul summarizes His epistemology of the Spirit. We can appraise, or examine, all things, but we are not appraised by them. The knowledge of the world, if we are in Christ and have the wisdom of God, is our slave rather than our master. Without first having the Holy Spirit, no one can understand the things of God and, consequently, assume they are foolishness.

We have the mind of Christ through the Spirit. We can understand the mysteries of God because Christ gives us His mind through the indwelling Holy Spirit. Jesus is redeeming the noetic effects of original sin. He is overcoming our depraved minds. May we know Him, not merely about Him. Holy Spirit, we ask you to give us eyes to see, ears to hear, and minds to understand You. Amen.