1 Corinthians 2

1 For my own part, Brothers, when I came to you, it was with no display of eloquence or philosophy that I came to tell the hidden purpose of God;

And I, brethren, when I came unto you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God.

2 for I had determined that, while with you, I would know nothing but Jesus Christ — and him crucified!

For I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.

3 Indeed, when I came among you, I was weak, and full of fears, and in great anxiety.

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

4 My Message and my Proclamation were not delivered in the persuasive language of philosophy, but were accompanied by the manifestation of spiritual power,

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

5 so that your faith should be based, not on the philosophy of man, but on the power of God.

that your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.

6 Yet there is a philosophy that we teach to those whose faith is matured, but it is not the philosophy of to-day, nor that of the leaders of to-day — men whose downfall is at hand. (aiōn g165)

We speak wisdom, however, among them that are fullgrown: yet a wisdom not of this world, nor of the rulers of this world, who are coming to nought: (aiōn g165)

7 No, it is a divine philosophy that we teach, one concerned with the hidden purpose of God — that long-hidden philosophy which God, before time began, destined for our glory. (aiōn g165)

but we speak God’s wisdom in a mystery, [even] the [wisdom] that hath been hidden, which God foreordained before the worlds unto our glory: (aiōn g165)

8 This philosophy is not known to any of the leaders of to-day; for, had they known it, they would not have crucified our glorified Lord. (aiōn g165)

which none of the rulers of this world hath known: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory: (aiōn g165)

9 It is what Scripture speaks of as — ‘What eye never saw, nor ear ever heard, what never entered the mind of man — even all that God has prepared for those who love him.’

but as it is written, Things which eye saw not, and ear heard not, And [which] entered not into the heart of man, Whatsoever things God prepared for them that love him.

10 Yet to us God revealed it through his Spirit; for the Spirit fathoms all things, even the inmost depths of God’s being.

But unto us God revealed [them] through the Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.

11 For what man is there who knows what a man is, except the man’s own spirit within him? So, also, no one comprehends what God is, except the Spirit of God.

For who among men knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of the man, which is in him? even so the things of God none knoweth, save the Spirit of God.

12 And as for us, it is not the Spirit of the World that we have received, but the Spirit that comes from God, that we may realize the blessings given to us by him.

But we received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is from God; that we might know the things that were freely given to us of God.

13 And we speak of these gifts, not in language taught by human philosophy, but in language taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual things in spiritual words.

Which things also we speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Spirit teacheth; combining spiritual things with spiritual [words].

14 The merely intellectual man rejects the teaching of the Spirit of God; for to him it is mere folly; he cannot grasp it, because it is to be understood only by spiritual insight.

Now the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him; and he cannot know them, because they are spiritually judged.

15 But the man with spiritual insight is able to understand everything, although he himself is understood by no one.

But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, and he himself is judged of no man.

16 For ‘who has so comprehended the mind of the Lord as to be able to instruct him?’ We, however, have the very mind of Christ.

For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he should instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.