1 Corinthians 2 (BHT-ATN)

“We Speak the Wisdom of God”

1 And as for me, when I came to you, brothers and sisters, it was not with high-sounding speech or wisdom that I proclaimed to you the mystery revealed by God. 2 I made up my mind, you see, to forget about everything while I was with you except Jesus the Messiah and this man crucified. 3 And as for me, it was in a state of weakness and great fear and trembling that I came to you; 4 the truth of my teaching and my message was demonstrated not by human wisdom and persuasion,+ but by your receiving of the Spirit and by acts of power,+ 5 so that your faith would be based not on the so-called wisdom of men, but on the power of God.

6 A certain kind of wisdom, however, we do speak when we are with those who are mature, though not a wisdom that belongs to this age or to the rulers of this age, who are doomed to be reduced to nothing.+ 7 On the contrary, we speak the wisdom of God, previously concealed in the form of a mystery,+ a truly wise plan+ that God decided upon before the ages with a view to clothing and exalting us in glory,+ 8 which none of the rulers of this age understood.+ If they had understood, you see, they would not have crucified the very Lord of glory.+ 9 But as it is written:

“The things that no eye ever saw, and no ear ever heard,

and what never entered the human mind,+

the things God prepared for those who love him.”+

10 To us, however, God has revealed them through the Spirit.+ The Spirit, you see, fathoms all things, even God’s most profound thoughts and plans.+ 11 No one knows a person’s inmost thoughts and plans except for that person’s own spirit within him.+ In the same way, the thoughts and plans+ of God no one knows, except the Spirit of God. 12 In our case, moreover, it is not the spirit of the world that we have received, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand the things God has freely and graciously given to us, 13 things about which we also speak, not with words taught by human wisdom, but with those taught by the Spirit,+ explaining, to those who are governed by the Spirit, things made known by the Spirit.+ 14 A person who doesn’t have the Spirit,+ however, does not welcome the things that come from the Spirit of God.+ Indeed, such things+ are in his eyes mere foolishness and nonsense; he is unable to understand them, since it is only with the aid of the Spirit that they can be examined and understood. 15 If someone is governed by the Spirit, however, he can examine and understand all things. He himself, however, is upon examination understood by no one.+ 16 For

“Who has known the mind of the Lord,

so as to instruct him?”+

We, however, have the very mind and Spirit+ of the Messiah.

+1:1Or called. Following L-N in translation here (see L-N, 33.314).+1:2Lit summoned to be holy, or called/summoned to be saints. Cf 1 Th 4:7, 5:23; 2 Th 2:13.+1:3Unless otherwise marked (through superscript—ˢyou), all second person pronouns are in the second person plural.+1:5Or speech.+1:6Cf 1 Th 1:5.+1:6Cf 1 Co 2:1-5; Th 1:5. Translating ἐν ὑμῖν ( en humin) in a way similar to 1 Th 1:5 (cf CJB, ISV, NCV, NLT, and TEV at 1 Th 1:5). Paul’s point here is similar to his statements in 1 Th 1:4-5.+1:8Lit who.+1:8Cf Php 1:10; Col 1:22 Th 3:12, 5:23; Jud 24.+1:9Or trustworthy. Cf 1 Th 5:24; 2 Th 3:3.+1:9Or called, or invited.+1:9Cf Rm 5:3, 8:17, 8:27-30; Ga 2:20-21, 3:26-29; Php 3:10, 3:21; Col 3:1-4.+1:10Lit speak the same thing. ME (see BDAG, 588, sv λέγω 1.a.α.; ESS [1 Co 1-9], 32; UBSHS [1 Co], 20).+1:10For the basis of this rendering of νοῦς ( nous), see BDAG, 680, sv 2.b. An attitude of humility is what Paul means here (cf Php 2).+1:10Lit be restored to order/unity in the same mind and in the same conviction.+1:11Lit for it was made clear to me concerning you, my brothers, by those of Chloe, that there are bitter arguments/quarrels among you. ME. The mismatch in languages here is obvious.+1:12Lit each of you says. In English, this type of statement is more clearly and naturally expressed by distributing the subject and grouping it with the claim. Cf CJB, NCV, NIV, NLT.+1:12Lit I am of Paul. ME (see UBSHS [1 Co], 21). Variations of this are used here and in 1 Co 3:1, to aid in the translation of 3:21 (where the genitive is functioning on multiple levels at the same time, and where the things referred to are very diverse in nature).+1:13Or on your behalf, or in your place. See note at Ga 1:3.+1:13Cf Col 1:13.+1:16Cf CJB, NLT, TEV.+1:17Lit not with wisdom of speech/word. ME (see BDAG, 599, sv λόγος 1.a.β.; notes at 1 Th 1:5).+1:18Or deliverance.+1:19Cf Mt 11:25.+1:19Is 29:14+1:20Lit where. EFE. Though intelligible to some degree, the intended effect and meaning of the rhetorical question here doesn’t transfer as naturally into English simply with “where” (cf UBSHS [1 Co], 31). The CJB, LB, NCV, and TEV are best here.+1:20Lit where. EFE. See previous note.+1:20Lit where. EFE. See previous two notes.+1:20Lit Did not God make foolish the wisdom of the world? ME (see UBSHS [1 Co], 31). Cf TEV.+1:21Lit Since in the wisdom of God. ME (see ESS [1 Co 1-9], 52; UBSHS [1 Co], 32). Cf CJB, NLT, TEV.+1:21Cf Mt 11:25-28; Jn 1:18.+1:21IT. Cf TEV; UBSHS [1 Co], 32; v 1:18 above.+1:21Or in him. The object of faith is implied contextually. Cf CJB.+1:22Lit Greeks.+1:23Cf Dt 32:21; Ps 118:22; Is 28:16; Ac 22:22; Rm 9:33, 10:19, 11:9; 1 Pe 2:6-8.+1:23Because of the importance of the “stumbling block” motif in NT teaching, especially with regard to the Jewish people (see, eg, Ps 118:22; Is 28:16; Rm 9:33, 11:9; 1 Pe 2:6-8), I thought it important to maintain the literal imagery here. I have clarified the meaning (see L-N, 25.181), though, with an appositional phrase.+1:23See previous note.+1:23Cf Ac 17:16-21.+1:24Or called, or invited.+1:24Lit Greeks.+1:26Lit look at your calling. ME (see NET Bible Notes, 1 Co 1:26; UBSHS [1 Co], 37). Cf NET, TEV.+1:27Lit the foolish things of the world. ME Cf CJB, NLT, TEV.+1:27Or chose, or has chosen.+1:27Cf Dt 7:7-9; 1 Sm 16:1-12; 2 Sm 7:8; Am 7:14; Ac 4:13.+1:27Lit the weak things of the world. ME. Cf CJB, TEV.+1:28Lit the insignificant things of the world and the despised things. ME. Cf NCV, TEV.+1:28Lit the things not being. ME (see ESS [1 Co 1-9], 65; UBSHS [1 Co], 39). Cf NLT, NCV, TEV.+1:28Lit the things being. ME. Cf CJB, NCV, NLT, TEV. Here, the opposite of “the things not being” is meant (see note earlier in this verse).+1:29Lit all flesh, or any flesh, or any kind of flesh. Translated according to “Flesh” M, N (see FBT Chart). Cf translation and note at Ac 2:17.+1:29Lit so that no flesh may boast. ME (see notes at 2 Co 1:14).+1:30Lit out of him, or from him, or because of him, or by him. ME. Cf NASB, NCV, NLT, REB, TEV, TNT. Cf Dt 7:7-9, 9:4-6; Jr 9:23-24; Rm 9:14-18; 1 Jn 4:19; v 31.+1:30Cf CJB, ISV, NLT, TEV.+1:30This may well be an allusion to the cornerstone motif (cf Ps 118:22; Mt 21:42-43; Mk 12:10-11; Ac 4:11). Cf παρὰ κυρίου ( para kuriou) in Mt 21:42 with ἐξ αὐτοῦ ( ex autou) and ἀπὸ θεοῦ ( apo theou) in this verse, and note how this element receives focal prominence here and in Mt 21:42. Cf also the TEV’s translation of γίνομαι at Mt 21:28.+1:30Lit sanctification. ME/IT (see Timothy Miller, “Paul’s Priestly Mission and Salvation from the Coming Wrath: A Missiological Probe of Romans 15:16 and the Question of Divine Anger through the Worldview of Leviticus” [PhD diss., Columbia International University, 2024]).+1:31Lit boasts. ME (see notes at 2 Co 1:14).+1:31Lit in the Lord. ME(OTB) (see UBSHS [1 Co], 42; cf, eg, Ps 77:11, 78:4, 106:2). Cf TEV. Ga 6:14 confirms that the TEV has rightly identified the intending meaning here. Cf Rm 1:16-17.+1:31Jr 9:24+2:4Lit in persuasion of wisdom. ME. Cf NCV, NIV, NLT.+2:4Lit proof/demonstration [consisting] of the Spirit and power. ME. Following the lead of BDAG in translation here (see BDAG, 109, sv ἀπόδειξις), with the information in the verbal noun activated in verb form for more natural expression in English. Cf Ac 10:44-48, 11:15-17; Ga 4:6-7; 1 Th 1:5.+2:6Cf Ps 110:5-6; Is 24:21-23; Dn 10; Zc 14; 1 Co 6:1-3; Eph 3:10-11; 1 Jn 5:19; Re 19:11-21:15.+2:7Cf Rm 16:25; Eph 3:3-9; Col 1:25-28.+2:7The antecedent here is “wisdom.” When used with προορίζω ( proorizō), a wise plan or decision is meant (see L-N, 30.84; UBSHS [1 Co], 54; Ac 4:28; Eph 3:9). Cf NCV, NLT.+2:7Lit unto/for/with a view to our glory. ME (see BDAG, 257, sv δόξα 1.c.; translation and notes at Jn 7:39, Rm 8:30). Cf Is 52:12-53:12; 1 Pt 1:20.+2:8Cf Is 40:13-14; Rm 11:34.+2:8Cf Is 53:1; Jn 1:14, 12:38; Php 2:6-11; 1 Ti 3:16.+2:9Lit not ascend in/on the heart of man. ME(I/F) (see BDAG, 58, sv ἀναβαίνω 2; L-N, 30.17; UBSHS [1 Co], 56). Cf HCSB.+2:9Is 64:4+2:10Cf Eph 3:4-6; Col 1:26-27.+2:10Lit the deep things of God. ME (see L-N, 28.76; UBSHS [Re], 61). Cf Dn 2:20-23; 1 Pt 1:11.+2:11Lit Who among men knows the things of the man except the spirit of the man that is in him? ME. The gap between languages here is obvious. Cf NLT.+2:11Lit the things. What the “things” are is made clear from the context. Cf ESV, HCSB, NASB, RSV.+2:13Cf Is 54:13. Cf Jr 31:33-34; Jn 6:45, 16:13; Rm 2:15; 1 Th 4:9; Heb 8:10-11; 1 Jn 2:27.+2:13Or comparing things of the Spirit with things of the Spirit. Though I am not dogmatic here, Paul’s use of πνευματικοῖς ( pneumatikois) in 1 Co 3:1 causes me to favor the interpretation reflected in the translation. Also, looking to the context for the intended meaning of πνευματικὰ ( pneumatika) here: “My message and my preaching” (v 4); “God has revealed them to us by the Spirit” (v 10); “so that we may understand” (v 12); “taught by the Spirit” (v 13); “unable to understand” (v 14); “examined and understood” (v 14); “examine and understand all things” (v 15).+2:14Lit the natural man. ME (see ANLEX, 414, sv ψυχικός 2; UBSHS [1 Co], 61). In addition to the immediate context, Jude 19 makes it clear what is meant by ψυχικός ( psuchikos) here. Cf NIV, NCV, TEV.+2:14Cf Jn 14:15-17.+2:14Lit they.+2:15Cf 1 Co 4:8-13; Heb 11.+2:16A loose quotation of Is 40:13 (LXX).+2:16IT/ME(OTB) (see BDAG, 680, sv νοῦς 3; UBSHS [1 Co], 63; MT of Is 40:13, where rûach [“spirit/breath/mind”] is used). Many English readers might not realize the close relationship between spirit and mind presupposed by Paul’s statement here. Therefore, the IT has been made explicit in translation, so that the connection between this statement and information activated in the broader context is not lost in translation.