1 Corinthians 2:10-16 Study

Introduction

Paul has specified that the Apostles teach and preach the Wisdom of God, which is considered foolishness to the world who doesn’t know God. He said that God’s Wisdom is hidden from the world. In this passage, Paul speaks more about God’s Wisdom concerning the Apostles and the church.

Verses 10-11

God’s Wisdom Revealed to Apostles By the Spirit

Christian Standard Bible Chapter 2

10 Now God has revealed these things to us by the Spirit, since the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. 11 For who knows a person’s thoughts except his spirit within him? In the same way, no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.

There is immense power in having God’s Spirit, we often forget this. Because we have God’s Spirit, we can know more. If we have the Spirit of God, then we can truly know God. No we cannot know His depths, as the Spirit does, but we can know Him.

Now what does it mean that the Spirit searches the depths of God? We must consider the Trinity. The Spirit is a person within the Triune God. He knows Himself through the Spirit. Each person in the Trinity knows one another. When we have God’s Spirit in us, He imparts to us knowledge of who our God is.

If we want to know who God is, you must have His Spirit. As Paul says, For who knows a person’s thoughts except his spirit within him? God’s Spirit is required in order to know God.

Verses 12-14

Spirit of the World vs Spirit of God

Christian Standard Bible Chapter 2

12 Now we have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who comes from God, so that we may understand what has been freely given to us by God. 13 We also speak these things, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual things to spiritual people. 14 But the person without the Spirit does not receive what comes from God’s Spirit, because it is foolishness to him; he is not able to understand it since it is evaluated spiritually.

The fact that Paul distinguishes between the two points out that you can only have one or the other. The truth is that upon our conception, we, man, has a hole in his center. This vacuum can be filled by a spirit. The spirit that fills it from the start is the spirit of the world. However, upon your salvation, the Spirit of God invades your heart, kills that spirit, and floods every part of you.

Gifts From God Seen

Paul tells us that in having God’s Spirit, you can understand what has been freely given to us by God. Only one with God’s Spirit will be able to discern and recognize all the good gifts that God has poured out on us.

Example: Deztanee told me how grateful she was to God the other day because she was having a hard time at work and her next patient cancelled. An unbeliever would say “That was lucky.” But my wife said “That was God.” This is a great example of God’s Spirit at work in us.

Godly, Spiritual Wisdom

Verses 15-16