The Bible Says
1 Corinthians 2:6-9 Meaning

In 1 Corinthians 2:6-9, Paul elevates the wisdom of God and His eternal truth which is shown to us by God’s Spirit; this gives us insight that transcends human comprehension. It is in the wisdom of God and by adopting the mind of Christ that believers can unite, avoiding dissention that comes through factions that follow mere men (1 Corinthians 1:10-11).

In the last section, Paul contrasted the “the power of God” as opposed to “human wisdom,” asserting that human wisdom does not lead to true understanding (1 Corinthians 2:5). Now he describes the “power of God” as a wisdom that proceeds from God rather than man, saying: Yet we do speak wisdom among those who are mature; a wisdom, however, not of this age nor of the rulers of this age, who are passing away (v.6).

Paul’s message cuts through shallow forms of knowledge that put human pride in the limelight. Instead of relying on fleeting philosophies, he presents a wisdom rooted in God’s eternal plan, which outlasts any earthly regime. He contrasts this wisdom from above with the wisdom of the world. God’s wisdom is:

• not of this age
• nor of the rulers of this age

Both the things of this age as well as the things related to the elites of the world, the rulers of this age, are both passing away. They are temporary. They will not last. In fact, all things of this earth are destined to burn in fire, to make way for a new heaven and earth (2 Peter 3:12-13).

The word mature in the phrase Yet we do speak wisdom among those who are mature is from the Greek “teleios,” which can be translated as “mature,” “complete,” or “perfect.” It refers to believers who have advanced in spiritual understanding.

Hebrews speaks of moving on to spiritual maturity by leaving behind “elementary teaching” (Hebrews 6:1) and exercising an understanding that we have access to Jesus as a great High Priest in heaven. Jesus, the great High Priest, can cleanse our consciences and prepare us to do good works that will please Him when we face Him in the judgement (Hebrews 6:19-20, 10:19-25). In the next chapter, Paul will similarly focus the believers’ attention on receiving lasting rewards at the judgment seat of Christ (1 Corinthians 3:11-15).

Although Greek thinkers strived to uncover the secrets of the universe through human reason, Paul reveals that true wisdom comes from a divine source that surpasses or transcends what mere human logic can ever accomplish. This godly insight can only be embraced by those who are open to receiving the spiritual reality Christ brought into the world when the One who created all things became a part of His creation in order to redeem it from sin.

The beginning of this divine wisdom starts with the humility Paul has described earlier in the chapter (1 Corinthians 2:2-3). Humility is the willingness to seek and embrace reality. What is real and true is that wisdom begins with a fear of the LORD then reaches maturity or completion through the teaching of His Spirit (Proverbs 9:10, 1 Corinthians 2:10).

Corinth was a major city in ancient Greece, an influential hub for commerce and philosophy. It would, therefore, include elites who could be described as rulers of this age. They might be business or political leaders who are respected in their spheres of influence.

But their wisdom is not God’s wisdom. Jesus consistently taught that true understanding often looks like foolishness in the eyes of a world that cherishes its own intellectual standards (Matthew 11:25).

Paul continues, but we speak God's wisdom in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God predestined before the ages to our glory; the wisdom which none of the rulers of this age has understood; for if they had understood it they would not have crucified the Lord of glory; (v.7-8).

This mystery that is God’s wisdom is not something the early church invented; it was part of God’s overarching plan before the ages. A mystery (Greek “mysterion”) is a hidden truth. There was a hidden truth that God revealed through Jesus Christ, namely that all things in heaven and earth will be summed up in Him (Ephesians 1:9).

This hidden wisdom was decided by God not only prior to any human philosophy; it was even from before the beginning of time. This hidden wisdom points to God’s redemptive plan through Jesus Christ—a plan that began before creation itself (Ephesians 1:4).

With the phrase hidden wisdom, Paul asserts that the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus were foreseen by God from the beginning, while being unforeseen by man. This hidden wisdom remained veiled (hidden) until it was revealed in Christ. As 1 Peter 1:10-11 indicates, this hidden wisdom was prophesied by the Old Testament prophets, but they themselves were “seeking to know what person or time the Spirit of Christ within them was indicated as He predicted the sufferings for Christ and the glories to follow.”

God chose to manifest this wisdom to the world “at the proper time” (Titus 1:3). However, even though God manifested Christ to the world, it was still not understood by the rulers of this age. If they had understood this wisdom of God, Paul asserts, then they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. In this, what men meant for evil God turned to good, which is a recurring theme in scripture (Genesis 50:20, Romans 8:28).

In saying this hidden wisdom was predestined... to our glory, Paul emphasizes that believers benefit immeasurably when they cling to God’s redeeming work through Christ. The Greek word “doxa” is translated glory. It refers to the essence of someone or something being displayed and observed, as in 1 Corinthians 15:41, which says the moon and sun have differing sorts of glory (“doxa”).

When Jesus lived a perfect life then died for our sins, He restored the right of humans to be restored to their original design, the essence of their purpose. We see this in Hebrews 2:5-9, which quotes the assertion of Psalm 8 that God “crowned” humans with the “glory and honor” of supervising His creation, elevating them over the angels, who are superior creatures (Psalm 8:5-6, Hebrews 2:6-7). Psalm 8 tells us God did this to silence Satan (Psalm 8:2).

It was through the “suffering of death” that Jesus was “crowned with glory and honor” by being elevated over all the world not only as God but also as a human (Hebrews 2:9, Matthew 28:18). Because He learned obedience, even to death on the cross, His name was elevated above all names (Philippians 2:8-9, Matthew 28:18).

It is now Jesus’s desire to bring “many sons to glory” by elevating them to share His authority by overcoming as He overcame (Hebrews 2:10, Revelation 3:21). Thus, Jesus’s death and resurrection is the means by which God will redeem our original purpose for those who believe. By restoring humans to their purpose, His hidden wisdom revealed through Christ paves the path for humans to be restored to our original design and purpose, which is our glory.

It was God’s design for humans to reign with Him, demonstrating that a lesser creature reigning in service is superior to an advanced creature, like Satan, ruling in his own power. Jesus came to serve (Matthew 20:28). He was a perfect servant, which led to the Father rewarding Him the right to reign. This was God’s design from the beginning, and it was predestined to take place. Each believer is also predestined to be conformed to Christ’s image (see commentary on Romans 8:28-30).

The Greek word “aion” is translated ages in the phrase before the ages to our glory. This word means “as far as can be seen” and context determines what we are looking at and in what direction. For example, “aion” is translated “of old” in Luke 1:70 and “forever” in Luke 1:55. Context indicates that the term before the ages here speaks of an age prior to the beginning of time. The idea is that “This has always been the plan.” God designed the world to be supervised by servants working in harmony with Him, and He will see that it is so (2 Peter 3:13).

In the phrase, the wisdom which none of the rulers of this age has understood; for if they had understood it they would not have crucified the Lord of glory, the apostle ties the ignorance of the political and religious elite directly to the crucifixion of Christ. The phrase rulers of this age can be understood as those in positions of authority, such as the Roman Prefect Pontius Pilate (who governed Judea from 26-36 AD) and the Jewish leadership in Jerusalem, who did not recognize the true identity of Jesus as the Messiah (John 11:48).

If the rulers had truly recognized the Lord of glory in Christ, they would have realized the magnitude of His divinity and never carried out the act that put Him on the cross. Yet their misunderstanding and spiritual blindness were part of the fulfillment of prophecy—that the Messiah would be rejected by His own people and crucified (Psalm 118:22). This highlights that, in God’s sovereign wisdom, what appeared as an apparent defeat was actually the catalyst for reconciliation and salvation for those who believe.

In the crucifixion, worldly wisdom seemed to triumph, silencing an inconvenient and seemingly rebellious voice coming from Jesus of Nazareth. But what truly happened was the unveiling of God’s grand, righteous, and reconciling plan. Christ’s death and resurrection displayed a power far beyond human logic; Christ’s resurrection defeated death and displaced Satan as the ruler of this world. This demonstrates how God’s ways can overturn every expectation of human authority.

This same Lord of glory is now exalted above every ruler and authority and these same rulers of this age bow before the Lord of glory (Philippians 2:9-10). Paul then quotes Scripture, as is his habit: but just as it is written, "Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, and which have not entered the heart of man, all that God has prepared for those who love Him" (v.9).

We can tell Paul intends to quote scripture because he introduces the quote by saying but just as it is written. The writing Paul has in mind is the Old Testament. He appears to quote from Isaiah 64:4, which says:

“For from days of old they have not heard or perceived by ear, Nor has the eye seen a God besides You, Who acts in behalf of the one who waits for Him.”
(Isaiah 64:4)

We can note that Paul substitutes for those who love Him for the phrase “the one who waits for Him.” We can deduce the reason for this change is because the One for whom we waited has now come. It was Jesus who fulfilled all God promised to redeem humanity. Paul’s message focuses on that very thing, the profound but simple message of Christ and Him crucified.

To love Him who has come is to have the same basic attitude/perspective as the one who waited in hope. Both point to a belief that God will make the wait worthwhile. God’s reward for those who love Him is beyond human capacity to comprehend. No natural perception or reasoning can fully capture what God intends for those who are devoted to follow Him.

Which brings us back to Paul’s train of thought. He began this letter by exhorting the Corinthians to find unity in Christ rather than being divided by following men (1 Corinthians 1:10-11). It is God who can give rewards that last, as Paul will speak of in the next chapter (1 Corinthians 3:11-15). The rewards of this world will not endure. Therefore, we should follow God, not men.

These things Paul mentions that God has prepared for those who love Him are beyond our comprehension. That God has prepared emphasizes certainty that His promised rewards will certainly come to pass. Just as He prepared the works for believers to walk in, He has prepared rewards for those who love Him (Ephesians 2:10).