1 Corinthians 2

Devotionals, Articles, and Bible Study Resources on 1 Corinthians 2

1When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God.
2For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.
3I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling.
4My message and my preaching were not with persuasive words of wisdom, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power,
5so that your faith would not rest on men’s wisdom, but on God’s power.
6Among the mature, however, we speak a message of wisdom — but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing.
7No, we speak of the mysterious and hidden wisdom of God, which He destined for our glory before time began.
8None of the rulers of this age understood it. For if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
9Rather, as it is written:
“No eye has seen,
no ear has heard,
no heart has imagined,
what God has prepared for those who love Him.”
10But God has revealed it to us by the Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.
11For who among men knows the thoughts of man except his own spirit within him? So too, no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.
12We have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us.
13And this is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom, but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words.
14The natural man does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God. For they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.
15The spiritual man judges all things, but he himself is not subject to anyone’s judgment.
16“For who has known the mind of the Lord, so as to instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ.
— 1 Corinthians 2

Related Resources from Heartlight

Illustration of 1 Corinthians 2:7-8 NLT; 1 Corinthians 2:14 NLT

Illustration of 1 Corinthians 2:7-8 NLT; 1 Corinthians 2:14 NLT -- No, the wisdom we speak of is the mystery of God — his plan that was previously hidden, even though he made it for our ultimate glory before the world began. But the rulers of this world have not understood it; if they had, they would not have crucified our glorious Lord. ... But people who aren't spiritual can't receive these truths from God's Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them and they can't understand it, for only those who are spiritual can understand what the Spirit means.

Illustration of 1 Corinthians 2:4-5 NIV

Illustration of 1 Corinthians 2:4-5 NIV -- My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God's power.

Illustration of 1 Corinthians 2:11-12 NCV

Illustration of 1 Corinthians 2:11-12 NCV -- Who knows the thoughts that another person has? Only a person’s spirit that lives within him knows his thoughts. It is the same with God. No one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. Now we did not receive the spirit of the world, but we received the Spirit that is from God so that we can know all that God has given us.

Illustration of 1 Corinthians 2:9

Illustration of 1 Corinthians 2:9 -- As it is written: "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him.

Illustration of 1 Corinthians 2:14

Inspirational illustration of 1 Corinthians 2:14 -- The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.

Illustration of 1 Corinthians 2:9

Illustration of 1 Corinthians 2:9 -- However, as it is written: "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him."

Illustration of 1 Corinthians 2:9

Inspirational illustration of 1 Corinthians 2:9 -- As it is written: No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him.

Illustration of 1 Corinthians 2:9

Inspirational illustration of 1 Corinthians 2:9 -- However, as it is written: "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him."

Illustration of 1 Corinthians 2:12 NIV

Illustration of 1 Corinthians 2:12 NIV -- What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us.

Cross References for 1 Corinthians 2

Cross References Provided by Open Bible

The Berean Standard Bible

The Berean Standard Bible (BSB) is a modern, clear, and faithful translation based on the best available Greek and Hebrew manuscripts. Ideal for reading, study, and sharing, it entered the public domain in 2023. For more information, visit berean.bible.