Eye Hath Not Seen

1 Cor. 2:9

Here’s another Misunderstood Text of the Bible, which many people misuse often. It is,

1 Corinthians 2:9 “But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.”

And many people like to use this to describe that we do not know the joys and wonder that awaits us in heaven. And while that statement is very true, the question is, is that what this verse is talking about.

As usual, the answer lies in the context. We must understand the context of this verse to understand what the Apostle Paul is talking about. Both preceeding and following this verse.

So let’s read the context, starting in verse 6 and finishing in verse 10.

1 Corinthians 2:6–10 “Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect [mature]: yet not the wisdom of this world [world system controlled by the wicked world rulers Eph. 6:12], nor of the princes [principalities] of this world, that come to nought: But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery [secret], even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: Which none of the princes [principalites] of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.”

Paul starts by saying that he speaks a certain type of wisdom. He calls it a mystery or secret, then he calls it hidden wisdom. Then he says that this secret wisdom was ordained before the world for OUR glory, in other words, for us right now. Next, he says that none of the Principalities knew this secret wisdom. The Principalities are

the wicked Spiritual rulers that Paul talks about in Eph. 6:12.

So Paul is speaking about secret wisdom that was kept secret since before the world began and was not revealed in the Old Testament. Hence, nobody knew it. Then he says, eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man the things which God hath prepared for them that love him [that’s us].

But what things hath God prepared? The HIDDEN WISDOM!! That’s what eye hath not seen nor ear heard nor even thought of by man.

Paul goes on to say “But God has revealed the unto us...” Eye now sees and ear now hears that which God hath prepared before the world began. It’s not a secret any more, it’s not hidden anymore.

Folks, Paul’s not talking about the glories of heaven. As a matter of fact, wasn’t Paul caught up to the 3rd heaven? So an eye had seen and ear had hear the glories of heaven. So Paul cannot be talking about heaven here in this verse where he says eye hath not seen and ear hath not heard.

Whatever this secret, hidden wisdom is, it’s so important that the principalities if they had know this would not have crucified Christ!! It is true that their eyes and ears never heard this wisdom that is now revealed. Praise God, for Christ’s death pays for our sins.

So now you know what eye hath not seen nor ear heard. Now this is no longer a misunderstood text of the Bible.