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Summary

1 Corinthians 2:1–5 – Paul’s Method: Christ Crucified

What happens: Paul comes in weakness, not with lofty words. He decides to know nothing except Jesus Christ and him crucified. Faith should rest on God’s power, not human skill.

What it means: True ministry trusts God’s Spirit to work through the gospel. God values dependence and honesty over show. The cross keeps the focus on God’s mercy and justice.

1 Corinthians 2:6–10 – God’s Hidden Wisdom Revealed

What happens: Paul speaks wisdom to the mature, a wisdom God planned before time. The rulers did not understand it. God reveals what he prepared for those who love him.

What it means: God’s saving plan is older and deeper than human plans. He is sovereign and faithful to his promises. Knowing him is a gift, not a human discovery.

1 Corinthians 2:11–16 – The Spirit Discerns the Things of God

What happens: Only God’s Spirit knows God’s thoughts. Believers receive the Spirit to understand what God gives. The natural person does not accept these things. The church has the mind of Christ.

What it means: Spiritual understanding is grace from the Spirit, not human genius. God invites us into discernment that matches Christ’s heart. This calls for humility, prayer, and a listening posture.

Application

  • Keep the cross central in teaching, counsel, and decisions.
  • Ask the Spirit to give discernment before you speak or act.
  • Evaluate ministry by faithfulness and fruit, not flash and eloquence.
  • Practice dependence: pray, confess weakness, and point people to Christ.

Bible

1And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God.

2For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.

3And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.

4And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:

5That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.

6Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought:

7But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:

8Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

9But 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.

10But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.

11For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.

12Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.

13Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

14But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

15But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.

16For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.

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