Sunday School (21)

1 Corinthians 2:1-16

Paul has shown that God’s wisdom is revealed not through human intellect or eloquence but through the Holy Spirit to those who are spiritual.

Let’s continue our journey through Paul’s letter to Corinth. Would someone read 1 Corinthians 2:1-16 out loud please?

1 Corinthians 2:1–16 ESV

And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. Yet among the mature we do impart wisdom, although it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to pass away. But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glory. None of the rulers of this age understood this, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”— these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. For who knows a person’s thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual. The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one. “For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.

Verse 1

And when I came to you, brethren, I did not come with superiority of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God.

Paul reminds the Corinthians that his preaching wasn’t about performance or rhetoric. Corinth was known for polished orators, but Paul intentionally avoided that style so the message itself and not the messenger would stand out.

Why does Paul reject “superiority of speech or wisdom”? Because the gospel’s power lies in God’s truth, not human eloquence. If persuasion depends on clever speech, faith rests on the preacher, not on God.

Verse 2

For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.

Paul made a deliberate choice to focus on the central truth: Christ crucified. Everything else such as philosophy, debate, or status was secondary. This singular focus defines authentic Christian preaching.

Why is focusing on “Christ crucified” so essential? Because the cross reveals both God’s love and His justice. It is the heart of salvation and the only message that truly transforms hearts.

Verse 3

I was with you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling,

Paul admits vulnerability. His physical weakness and trembling may reflect both personal humility and his awareness of dependence on God’s power rather than his own strength.

What might Paul’s “weakness” teach us about ministry? That God often works most powerfully through humility and dependence, not self-confidence or charisma.

Verse 4

and my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power,

Paul contrasts human persuasion with divine power. The proof of his message wasn’t clever logic but the Spirit’s transforming effect in people’s lives.

What does a “demonstration of the Spirit and of power” look like? Changed hearts, conviction of sin, genuine faith, and lives transformed by the Spirit. It is not just an intellectual agreement.

Verse 5

so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God.

Paul’s goal: that believers’ trust be grounded in God’s work, not in a preacher’s skill. Faith built on human charisma collapses; faith rooted in God’s power endures.

What’s the danger of faith “resting on the wisdom of men”? It produces shallow belief that depends on personalities or arguments rather than the living God.

Verse 6

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 clarifies. He says that there is divine wisdom, but it’s revealed to the spiritually mature, not worldly thinkers. The wisdom of “this age” (human systems, power, influence) is temporary.

Who are the “mature” Paul mentions here? Believers who are spiritually receptive. Those growing in the Spirit through discipleship and able to understand God’s deeper truths. Meat over milk.

Verse 7

but we speak God’s wisdom in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God predestined before the ages to our glory;

God’s wisdom, once hidden, is now revealed in Christ. “Mystery” in Paul’s usage means something previously concealed but now made known through the gospel. It is God’s eternal plan of redemption.

What might “predestined before the ages” reveal about God’s plan? That salvation through Christ was not an afterthought but part of God’s eternal design. In His wisdom He planned it long before creation. It was always Plan A not plan B.

Verse 8

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;

Earthly leaders (Jewish and Roman alike) did not recognize God’s plan. Ironically, in crucifying Jesus, they fulfilled it. Their “wisdom” blinded them to the true Lord of glory.

What does this verse show about human blindness without God’s revelation? That even the most powerful and educated people will completely miss God’s truth without the discernment of the Holy Spirit.

Verse 9

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.” Paul quotes Isaiah to show that God’s blessings and plans surpass all human imagination — especially the revelation of salvation in Christ. (Isaiah 64:4 “From of old no one has heard or perceived by the ear, no eye has seen a God besides you, who acts for those who wait for him.” )

What are “the things God has prepared” here? Primarily the revelation of the gospel and the blessings of life in Christ. However, it also points to future glory in eternity.

Verse 10

For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God.

God’s hidden wisdom is made known by the Holy Spirit. Only the Spirit can reveal the deep truths of God because He Himself is God.

Why is the Holy Spirit essential for understanding God’s truth? Because divine truth can’t be discovered through reason or study alone. Therefore, it must be revealed by the One who knows God perfectly.

Verse 11

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.

Explanation: Paul uses an analogy: just as only you truly know your inner thoughts, only the Spirit knows God’s thoughts. Thus, true knowledge of God comes only through the Spirit’s revelation.

Discussion Question: What does this verse teach about the relationship between God and the Spirit? Answer: It shows the Spirit’s full divinity and unity with God — He perfectly knows and communicates the Father’s mind.

Verse 12

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,

Believers have received the Holy Spirit, enabling them to understand and appreciate God’s grace or “the things freely given.” This contrasts with worldly thinking, which cannot grasp spiritual truths.

What are some of the “things freely given” we now understand by the Spirit? Salvation, forgiveness, spiritual gifts, God’s love, and the hope of eternal life. These are all revealed and applied by the Spirit.

Verse 13

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.

Paul’s teaching doesn’t come from human logic but from the Spirit’s inspiration. He communicates spiritual truths in Spirit-led words.

What might it mean to “combine spiritual thoughts with spiritual words”? It means speaking God’s revealed truths using language and understanding guided by the Spirit who is communicating divine realities with divine insight.

Verse 14

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.

The “natural man” (one without the Spirit) cannot grasp spiritual truths. It’s not just unwillingness but inability — spiritual discernment requires the Spirit’s illumination.

Discussion Question: Why can’t the natural man understand spiritual things? Answer: Because without the Spirit, a person’s perspective is limited to human reasoning and they lack the spiritual life and sensitivity needed to perceive God’s truth.

Verse 15

But he who is spiritual appraises all things, yet he himself is appraised by no one.

The Spirit-filled believer can discern both spiritual and moral truths rightly, but worldly people cannot truly evaluate or understand the believer’s life and motives.

What does it mean to “appraise all things”? It means having discernment and the ability to see situations, people, and truth from God’s perspective.

Verse 16

For who has known the mind of the Lord, that he will instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ.

Paul quotes Isaiah 40:13 ( “Who has measured the Spirit of the Lord, or what man shows him his counsel?”) no one can teach God. Yet, astonishingly, through the Spirit, believers share in “the mind of Christ” and we can think, value, and love as He does.

How can believers have “the mind of Christ”? Through the indwelling Holy Spirit, who shapes our thoughts and attitudes to align with Christ’s which is humility, love, obedience, and discernment.

What are some key takeaways from this scripture? God’s wisdom is revealed by the Spirit, not human reasoning. Paul’s ministry depended on divine power, not eloquence. Spiritual truth can only be understood through the Spirit’s revelation. And believers are given the mind of Christ which is a new spiritual perception and discernment.