Commentary on 1 Corinthians 2:10–16
The context of 1 Corinthians 2:10–16 is an argument put forth by the apostle Paul, writing to the church at Corinth, in the southern province of Achaia of Greece. Following his opening salutation (1 Cor 1:1–9), the man who planted this church, establishes his propositio in 1 Corinthians 1:10,” Now I exhort you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ that you all agree, and there be no divisions among you, but you be made complete in the same mind and in the same judgment.”
Paul proceeds to instruct the “men of flesh” and “babes in Christ” how to grow in spiritual maturity via the wisdom and power of God, which is Christ (1 Cor 1:24). Every Spirit-filled minister of the Gospel brings Christ to God’s assembly, both in Word and Spirit. Let us consider these Persons of the Godhead and what is happening in the delivery and receipt of the Gospel ministry.
1 Corinthians 2:10– Paul has explained the content of the Gospel message (1 Cor 1:18–2:9). He now presents the Holy Spirit, as the key Person in revelation and illumination. God reveals Christ to His church, to “us.” Revelation (Gk. apeklupsev) is a gracious gift from God. It is God giving His people privileged access to His thoughts. The Spirit knows the thoughts of God because of His position and function. He is the Revealer and Teacher of God’s knowledge, intended for His people.
1 Cor 2:11 — Paul draws an analogy to help the Christians see the deity of the Holy Spirit, along with His personage. He begins by asking an obvious question about who truly knows the thoughts of a man. It is the spirit of that man that knows his own thoughts. It is exclusive knowledge to that man. The comparison is with the Spirit of God (pneuma tou theou), who exclusively knows the thoughts of God because He is God (the Spirit). The knowledge of the Holy One is what is being revealed, exclusively to Christ’s church (Mt 11:25–27; 16:15–17; Eph 3:5).
2:12 — Paul draws the comparison between two opposing spirits. He notes that “Christ knowledge” (wisdom of God) is not from the spirit of the world. This highlights the problem of false Christs, false prophets, and false teachers who deceive people with false gospels (Mt 24:24; 2 Cor 11:3–4). This is the evil deed of the god of this world (2 Cor 4:4), who is the father of lies (Jn 8:44).
The gracious gift (charisthenta) of the word of knowledge (1 Cor 12:8) is received from the Spirit of God, who is Himself, a gift, to the adopted children of God (Rom 8:15, 23; 1 Jn 3:10). The Holy Spirit is the divine source of the Bible (2 Tim 3:16; 2 Pet 1:20–21). He brings the Word to the church, to “us.” He teaches us the Word, and by this, He makes us to grow in holiness, by His grace (Jn 17:17; 1 Thess 4:3).
2:13 — Paul clarified the content of his apostolic preaching, which he already explained as: the Gospel (1 Cor 1:17); the cross of Christ (1:17); the word of the cross (1:18); power of God (1:18, 24); wisdom of God (1:21, 24); Christ crucified (1:23; 2:2); and Christ (1:24). God gave gifts to men, and this one is indescribable (2 Cor 9:15), yet revealed and received by the church, through the sovereign work of His Spirit. God’s grace affords the sending and receipt of the Spirit, who affords the knowledge of Christ, which is the knowledge of God, which includes the knowledge of our salvation, to whom He wills.
2:14 — Paul employed a disjunctive conjunction, “But.” He abruptly redirects, to introduce the Corinthians to the natural man (pseuksikos anthropos). This “soul man” does not understand Christ, nor does he accept Him, even judging Christ and salvation as “foolishness.” Paul explains that Christ-revealed requires spiritual discernment for receipt. The natural man does not have this grace from God. He is worldly-minded and devoid of the Spirit (Jude 1:19). It is not within his will (Mt 23:37; Jn 1:12–13; 5:40), nor his ability (Jn 12:39; Rom 8:7) to appraise the things of God, correctly. Being alienated from the life of God (Eph 4:17–18), with a futile mind (Jer 14:14; Eph 4:17), and a wicked heart (Jer 17:9), he is dead in sin (Eph 2:1–3), being blinded by the devil (2 Cor 4:3–4). He has no hope, being without God in the world (Eph 2:12).
2:15 — Paul abruptly shifts the focus, again, using another “But.” The spiritual man (pneumatikos anthropos) is contrasted with the natural man (soul man). The Greek words elucidate how one man has a soul, but the other has a soul and the Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the catalyst for wisdom and power to spiritually appraise (anakrino), that is, to study thoroughly with discernment. This is the Spirit’s work zone (the believer); therefore, when men judge the spiritual man, they are judging God’s predestined plan and work-to-date in that man. One must be prudent in these matters (Mt 7:1–5). The Corinthians misjudged the apostle Paul, who was forced to give them a defense of his apostleship (1 Cor 4). He also rebuked them for their carnality and worldly-divisiveness (1 Cor 3).
2:16 — Paul quoted Isaiah 40:13 to add emphasis to his point. We do not know the thoughts, or the mind of God, or the plan of God for other people, specifically. Saul/Paul is a pristine example of this (Acts 9)! The apostle shifts again (“But”), to emphasize that, “we have the mind of Christ.” This is what the indwelling Spirit (Rom 8:9, 11), illuminating and teaching the Spirit-given Scriptures (Jn 14:27; 16:13), does for the Christian. Therefore, it behooves us to set our minds on the Spirit (Rom 8:5–6), and to set our minds on the things above (Col 3:2), where Christ is seated in glory, on the throne of God (Mk 16:19; Heb 1:3; Rev 7:17). Every thought should be held captive to Him (2 Cor 10:5). This is done by prayer in the Spirit (Jude 1:20) and meditating on God’s Word, day and night (Ps 1:2).
In conclusion, 1 Corinthians 2:10–16 is the explanation of how the Christian gets God’s worldview. It is a Trinitarian work of revealed knowledge, from the exclusive Source, who has taken up permanent residence in the soul of the spiritual man, who is growing in grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ — being taught the Word of God, by the Spirit of God, who knows the thoughts of God, from the mind of God because He is God.
David Norczyk
Missoula, Montana
August 2, 2022
