Scofield Reference Bible Notes
1 Corinthians 2

1Co 2:4 And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:

enticing

Or, persuasive.

1Co 2:6 Howbeit 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:

perfect

i.e. full grown. Scofield Matthew 5:48, note.

world [See also 1Co 2:8.]

age.

princes of this world

rulers of this age.

1Co 2:7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:

we speak the wisdom of God

Inspiration. 1Co 2:7, 16; 1Co 14:37. (Exo 4:15; Rev 22:19.)

mystery

Scofield Matthew 13:11, note.

ordained

Predestination, translated predestinated, Rom 8:29-30; Eph 1:5, 11. (Act 4:28; Eph 1:11.)

world

foreordained before the ages. Cf. Scofield Romans 16:25, marg.

1Co 2:11 For 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.

Spirit of God [See also 1Co 2:14.]

Holy Spirit (N.T.). 1Co 2:4, 10-14; 1Co 3:16. (Mat 1:18; Act 2:4.)

1Co 2:12 Now 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.

world

kosmos = world-system. 1Co 7:31-33. (Jhn 7:7; Revelation 13:3).

1Co 2:13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth

1. The writers of Scripture invariably affirm, where the subject is mentioned by them at all, that the words of their writings are divinely taught. This, of necessity, refers to the original documents, not to translations and versions; but the labours of competent scholars have brought our English versions to a degree of perfection so remarkable that we may confidently rest upon them as authoritative.
2. 1Co 2:9-14 gives the process by which a truth passes from the mind of God to the minds of His people.
   1. The unseen things of God are undiscoverable by the natural man (1Co 2:9).
   2. These unseen things God has revealed to chosen men (1Co 2:10-12).
   3. The revealed things are communicated in Spirit-taught words (1Co 2:13). This implies neither mechanical dictation nor the effacement of the writer's personality, but only that the Spirit infallibly guides in the choice of words from the writer's own vocabulary (1Co 2:13).
   4. These Spirit-taught words, in which the revelation has been expressed, are discerned, as to their true spiritual content, only by the spiritual among believers (1Co 2:15-16). See also Scofield Revelation 22:19, note.

1Co 2:14 But 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.

the natural man

Paul divides men into three classes:

• psuchikos, "of the senses" (Jas 3:15; Jde 1:19), or "natural," i.e. the Adamic man, unrenewed through the new birth John 3:3,5;
• pneumatikos, "spiritual," i.e. the renewed man as Spirit-filled and walking in the Spirit in full communion with God Ephesians 5:18-20 and
• sarkikos, "carnal," "fleshly," i.e. the renewed man who, walking "after the flesh," remains a babe in Christ 1 Corinthians 3:1-4.

The natural man may be learned, gentle, eloquent, fascinating, but the spiritual content of Scripture is absolutely hidden from him; and the fleshly, or carnal Christian is able to comprehend only its simplest truths, "milk" (1Co 3:2).

1Co 2:15 But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.

judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man

discerneth all things, yet he himself is discerned of no man.

1Co 2:16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.

mind of the Lord

Spirit of the LORD. Isa 40:13.