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Nazarene Commentary 2000©

21^st Century Paraphrase of the Hebrew Scriptures© –
21^st Century Version of the Christian Scriptures© [NCMM]

THE FIRST LETTER TO THE CORINTHIANS

CHAPTER TWO:
“SPEAK GOD’S WISDOM IN A MYSTERY”

Theme Verse: 7

1 Corinthians 2:1-5 – Why a Simple Message

1CO2:1 When I visited you, brothers, I came not with excellent speech or wisdom 70 announcing to you the Mystery of The God. 71

70

I came not with excellent speech or wisdom: Or, KNX: without any high pretensions to eloquence, or to philosophy; NOR: learning. The Corinthians are known to have criticized Paul’s appearance and presentation. [2 Corinthians 10:10] Judging from his letters and his speeches, Paul had no limitations in his knowledge or speaking ability. [Acts chapters 13 and 17; 1 Corinthians 1:17; 2 Corinthians 11:6] He was certainly not limited in his vocabulary for he uses upwards of 160 words unique to his letters alone.

71

Announcing to you the Mystery of The God: Some versions do not include this phrase, but rather, “the testimony of God.” [KJV] Compare RHM: the mystery of God; WMS: uncovered secret; NWT: sacred secret. Paul is to use the Greek MYSTERION again at 1 Corinthians 2:7; 15:51. He uses it 15 times in other epistles.

1CO2:2 For I made the decision not to know anything while in your midst 72 except Jesus Christ and him impaled. 73

72

For I made the decision not to know anything while in your midst: Or, PME: you may as well know now that it was my secret determination to concentrate entirely; NOR: would speak of nothing. This verse has been much misapplied to indicate that Paul only preached one simple message. The context shows why he felt so obliged in the case of the Corinthians. The rest of the letter shows this not to be the case. The context [see verse 6] also indicates the limitations to this statement by Paul. Paul qualifies his statement: “in your midst.” He is not talking about his letter, or other letters.

73	Except Jesus Christ and him impaled: Or, crucified, executed. [Galatians 6:14] Sometimes a simple message reaches the arrogant philosopher more easily than high-sounding eloquence and the tyranny of authority.

1CO2:3 So, I came into your presence in weakness and fear and much trembling. 74

74	I came into your presence in weakness and fear and much trembling: Or, great anxiety, trembling, nervous. [2 Corinthians 10:1] We see Paul in the congregation speaking in a timorous voice without any agenda to make an impression.

1CO2:4 My speech and my message 75 were not presented in persuasive words of wisdom, 76 but rather in a demonstration of Pneuma and Power, 77

75	My speech and my message: Or, preaching. Paul speaks of his sermons before them.

76	Were not presented in persuasive words of wisdom: Or, KJV: not with enticing words of man’s wisdom; NEB: subtle arguments; TCN: not presented in the persuasive language of philosophy; BEC: clever talk.

77

But rather in a demonstration of Pneuma and Power: Or, WMS: proof and power given by the spirit; TAY: God’s power was I my words. There is no article before the Greek PNEUMATOS. Pneuma is often associated or parallel to “power” as it is like breath or wind – an invisible pressure. [Romans 15:19; 1 Thessalonians 1:5] It is possible Paul alludes to various manifestations of Pneuma listed in 1 Corinthians chapter 12.

1CO2:5 in order that your conviction may not be in human wisdom but in God’s Power. 78

78	Your conviction may not be in human wisdom but in God’s Power: Or, CON: its foundation not in the wisdom of men; PME: not rest on man’s cleverness; TCN: the philosophy of man. Compare Psalm 146:3, 4. [Ephesians 1:17; 2 Corinthians 4:7; 6:7]

1 Corinthians 2:6-9 – A Secret Mysterious Wisdom

1CO2:6 However, we do speak wisdom among the mature. 79 Not a wisdom of this time period, 80 neither that [wisdom] of the leading persons of these contemporary times. 81 Those [leading persons] are making themselves completely ineffective. 82

79	We do speak wisdom among the mature: Or, perfect, full-grown, spiritually mature. A suggestion, later stated in 1 Corinthians 3:1, 2 and 1 Corinthians 14:20, that the Corinthians were immature and this is the reason Paul spoke only of “Christ crucified.” [Ephesians 4:13; Hebrews 5:14]

80	Not a wisdom of this time period: Or, world, age. For notes on AION research that word, or Age. Compare 2 Corinthians 1:12 and 1 Timothy 6:20. Some, in order to impress others, couch their sermons and teaching in high-sounding and philosophic technical terms.

81	Neither that [wisdom] of the leading persons of these contemporary times: Or, KJV: nor the princes of this world; RSV: rulers of this age; NOR: wisdom of these times nor of the leaders of this age. [Matthew 20:25]

82	Those [leading persons] are making themselves completely ineffective: Or, KJV: come to nought; RSV: doomed to pass away; NEB: declining to their end; NJB: who will not last long now.

1CO2:7 Rather, we speak God’s Wisdom in a secret Mystery, 83 which The God pre-determined before the time periods 84 leading to our glory. 85

83

We speak God’s Wisdom in a secret Mystery: CON: the secret is made known to His people; NJB: mysterious wisdom; RHM: speak [God’s] wisdom in a sacred secret. Paul is to go on to mention one of these at 1 Corinthians 15:50, 51. [Romans 16:25; Ephesians 3:9] Paul has explained why when with the Corinthians he did not speak in such spiritual language.

84

The God pre-determined before the time periods: That is, before time immemorial. Or, KJV: ordained before the world; ASV: foreordained; WMS: marked off; RHM: marked out beforehand, before the ages; NJB: predestined; NWT: foreordained. The Greek is PROORISEN [Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance #4309, pre-determine, or appoint beforehand]. “Time periods” is from AIONON often rendered “world” or “ages.” The English words eons and aeons are rooted in this Greek word. It refers to a period of time such as the Age of the Dinosaurs. [Genesis 3:15; Ephesians 1:3, 4; Colossians 1:26]

85	Leading to our glory: Or, KJV: unto our glory; WMS: bringing us to glory; NOR: intended for our glory. Though Paul may use “glory” in the sense of “honor” it is also likely that he alludes to that future “glory” in His Presence. [Romans 2:7, 10; 5:2; 8:18; 9:4, 23; 1 Corinthians 15:40, 43]

1CO2:8 Not one of the leaders of this time period has known [this Mystery]. 86 For had they known it, it is likely they would not have executed the glorious Master. 87

86	Not one of the leaders of this time period has known [this Mystery]: Or, princes, rulers. Evidently Paul confirms that no prominent leaders or rulers learned of God’s sacred secret in his own time period. [John 7:48; Acts 13:27]

87	They would not have executed the glorious Master: Or, impaled, crucified. Like Peter, Paul may allude to Psalm 2:1, 2. Compare Acts 4:25-28.

1CO2:9 Rather, just as it is written, “No eye has seen, and no ear has heard, 88 nor has it risen in the human heart” [Isaiah 64:4] the things The God has prepared for those who continue to love Him. 89

88	No eye has seen, and no ear has heard: Paul quotes in a mild paraphrase Isaiah 64:4. The phrase “has risen in the human heart” has a ghostly echo of Stephen’s words at Acts 7:23.

89

The things The God has prepared for those who continue to love Him: Paul’s paraphrase finds no exact copy in the Hebrew Scriptures. He may paraphrase the idea of Exodus 20:6. However, he may also paraphrase Sirach 1:10 [Ecclesiasticus], “as much to each living creature as he chose – bestowing her on those who love him.” [Compare also Isaiah 52:15; 65:16; Jeremiah 3:16]

1 Corinthians 2:10-13 – A Spiritual Wisdom

1CO2:10 However, by means of the Pneuma, The God has revealed 90 [this secret Mystery] to us. For the Pneuma searches everything, 91 including the depths of The God. 92 [Job 11:7]

90

By means of the Pneuma, The God has revealed: That is, By means of inspiration God has revealed… Or, Spirit; revelation, unveiled. Jesus had promised his disciples that he would send the Pneuma [the spirit of the truth] that would lead them “into all the Truth.” [John 16:12, 13] Paul is one of the major instruments of this Christ-sent Pneuma. It is by Paul and John that the majority of the “mysteries” are revealed to the Church. [Deuteronomy 29:29; Mark 4:11; Ephesians 3:5]

91

The Pneuma searches everything: That is, the Divine Mind examines everything. Or, Spirit; explores, fathoms. As Paul will show in the next few phrases that he uses PNEUMA as “mind” and so the meaning here is simply that God by his own thought process [intellectual pressure] knows everything. [Psalm 11:4; 33:13; 66:7; Proverbs 15:3; Zechariah 4:10; Hebrews 4:10]

92

Including the depths of The God: Or, deep things, inmost depths. The Greek is BATHE [English bathiscope]. Only God’s own thought process [His Pneuma] could search into these depths. There is a good possibility Paul borrows from the Hebrew Text of Job 11:7. [Romans 11:33; Ephesians 3:18] These would include his “eternal purpose” and the future.

1CO2:11 Who among humankind is aware of the [thoughts] of another human, 93 except that human’s own thought process? 94 Exactly so, also, no one has known the [thoughts] of The God except the Pneuma of The God. 95

93	Who among humankind is aware of the [thoughts] of another human: That is, Who can read another person’s thoughts? Or, GDS: can understand a man’s thoughts. The meaning is: Who is able to read another person’s mind? PNEUMA is being use of thoughts and mind.

94

Except that human’s own thought process: That is, That person’s own mind. Or, person himself, own inner spirit. The PNEUMA [spirit] is an invisible force or unseen pressure. (Compare Koehler and Baumgartner’s Lexicon in Veteris Testamenti Libros, Leiden, 1958, pp. 877-879; Brown, Driver, and Briggs’ Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament, 1980, pp. 924-926; Theological Dictionary of the New Testament, edited by G. Friedrich, translated by G. Bromiley, 1971, Vol. VI, pp. 332-451.) A person’s PNEUMA is his inclination or disposition which pressures certain words or actions. [Genesis 41:8; Genesis 45:27, 28; 1Chronicles 5:26; Ezra 1:1, 5; Haggai 1:14; Ecclesiastes 10:4; Daniel 2:1, 3; Acts 17:16; Judges 8:3; Job 7:11; Psalm 142:2, 3; Isaiah 57:15, 16]

95

No one has known the [thoughts] of The God except the Pneuma of The God: That is, The only one who knows what God is thinking is God Himself. Or, RSV: so also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God; NJB: nobody knows the qualities of God the Spirit of God. It is interesting to note that the Son is omitted in this formula. Compare Matthew 11:27. The Absolute God is infinite and none of his finite creatures, including his Son, can know Him absolutely. Only His own Divine Mind can do this. See the next phrases.

1CO2:12 Now, we did not accept the [mental inclination] of the social order of humankind, 96 but rather the Pneuma from The God. 97 Thus, we may know the things freely given to us by The God. 98

96

We did not accept the [mental inclination] of the social order of humankind: That is, We do not receive the worldly attitude or worldly thinking. Or, KJV: now we have received, not the spirit of the world; WMS: spirit that belongs to this world. Each time period, each age of humanity has been characterized by its own “spirit” or disposition. Disciples of the Nazarene are “no part of this world” [John 15:19; 17:14, 16] and therefore do not think or speak like the world. [1 John 2:27; 1 John 4:3-5]

97

The Pneuma from The God: That is, The Divine Mind with its forceful thoughts. Or, Spirit. Compare John 15:26 and ask WHO was Jesus speaking to. The foretold Spirit-Helper or Pneuma was promised to his apostles, and likely their appointees, as a guide and remembrancer. Among the original apostles, Matthew, Peter, and John were major sources of this spirit-helper. The disciples James and Jude were also used. Jesus himself appointed Paul as his handpicked instrument and so the former Jewish rabbi composed half of the Christian Bible.

98

We may know the things freely given to us by The God: Or, understand, get insight. God does not inspire every disciple of the Nazarene. Each member of the Christian Church must “learn” through instruction what “things have been freely given by God.” [Ephesians 4:20; Colossians 1:6-10; Philippians 4:9; 2 Timothy 3:14-17] Only through these “their words” can we get to know these things of God, that is the Divine Mind. [John 17:20]

1CO2:13 These things we also speak 99 – not in words taught by human wisdom 100 – but rather in [words] taught by the Pneuma 101 – as we discern pneumatic things pneumatically. 102

99	These things we also speak: Or, tell, explain. Compare 2 Corinthians 4:12, 13. This knowledge moves us to speak in faith.

100

Not in words taught by human wisdom: Or, KJV: man’s wisdom; TCN: not in language taught by human philosophy; NOR: human learning; MON: of these high themes we speak in words not taught by human philosophy. Compare Colossians 1:28; 1 Timothy 6:20. Human wisdom can create numerous human opinions [1 Corinthians 1:10] which create disharmony and division within the Church. [Ephesians 4:14-16]

101	But rather in [words] taught by the Pneuma: Or, KJV: the Holy Ghost teacheth. This in fulfillment of Christ’s promise at John 16:12, 13 and mainly characterized in the apostolic “word.” [John 17:20]

102

As we discern pneumatic things pneumatically: Or, “discern spiritual things spiritually.” The phrase is rendered variously: KJV: comparing spiritual things with spiritual; ASV: spiritual things with spiritual words; CON: explaining spiritual things to spiritual men; ABU: interpreting spiritual things to spiritual men; KNX: matching what is spiritual with what is spiritual; NJB: fitting spiritual language to spiritual things. The Greek phrase is, PNEUMATIKOIS PNEUMATIKA SYNKRINONTES. Literally this is, “spiritual things spiritual things discerned [judged] with.” Note ANA-KRINEI [re-discerning] in 1 Corinthians 2:14. It is impossible to discern, judge or understand spiritual or divine matters and words through the filter of human wisdom.

1 Corinthians 2:14-16 – Contrasting the Physical and Spiritual

1CO2:14 In contrast, the psychical human does not accept the things of the Pneuma of The God, 103 for they are foolish to him. 104 So, such a person is unable to know them because they are pneumatically discerned. 105

103

The psychical human does not accept the things of the Pneuma of The God: Note it is “psychical human” not “physical man.” The Greek is PSUKHIKOS [Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance #5591, natural, animal, sensual]; the literal meaning of PSYCHE is “breather”. Or, soulical, soul-like. Compare notes on 1 Corinthians 15:44-48. This word is variously rendered: natural man, unspiritual man. An example of this may be observed in John 3:1-12.

104	They are foolish to him: There is an example of this at Acts 17:32. The soul-man may believe God’s existence as foolishness. [Psalm 14:1] To such a person the Flood, Biblical miracles, prophecy and the resurrection of Christ are foolish.

105

Such a person is unable to know them because they are pneumatically discerned: Or, spiritually discerned, spiritual insight. The phrase PNEUMATIKOS ANAKRINETAI is similar to that in 1 Corinthians 2:13. Compare an example of Peter’s temporary imbalance at Matthew 16:23. One wastes breath by trying to convince such a person.

1CO2:15 However, the pneumatic [person] discerns everything, 106 though [such a person] is indiscernible by anyone. 107

106

The pneumatic [person] discerns everything: Or, KJV: he that is spiritual judgeth all things; NEB: a man gifted with the Spirit can judge the worthiness of everything; BEC: find out the real value of everything; NAS: appraises all things; TCN: the man with spiritual insight is able to understand everything. [Romans 8:5] The pneumatic, or spiritual, person uses those words inspired by the Pneuma to discern truth and falsehood, good and bad, or future matters. [Hebrews 4:12; 5:14] The Bible is the major instrument in “discerning everything.”

107	Though [such a person] is indiscernible by anyone: Or, KJV: yet he himself is judged of no man; GDS: but his own true value no unspiritual man can see. There is a strong echo here of John 3:8, 12.

1CO2:16 For “Who has known the Mind of YHWH? 108 Who will instruct Him?” [Isaiah 40:13 LXX] However, Christ’s mind we do possess! 109

108

Who has known the Mind of YHWH: Paul quotes Isaiah 40:13 from the Jewish Greek Septuagint of the 3rd Century BCE. The LXX uses TIS EGNO NOUN KYRIOU. The Hebrew Text does not use “mind” [NOUN] but “of the Spirit.” Thus, Paul understands the “Spirit” to be “the Mind” of God. In both the LXX and the Greek text of Paul there is no article before KYRIOU suggesting the Tetragram could well have been in the original.

109

Christ’s mind we do possess: Or, PME: we who are spiritual have the same thoughts of Christ; MOF: our thoughts are Christ’s thoughts. [NOTE: if Jesus Christ was, in fact, Jehovah it is not logical that one could have the mind of one and not the other.] Consistent with the previous phrase this could all read: “Who has known the Spirit of YHWH?… But, we do have the Spirit of Christ.” In 1 Corinthians 1:10 Paul counseled to have the “same mind” and here we now know what “mind” this is. Compare Romans 15:5, Philippians 2:5, 1 Peter 4:1. A reading of the Gospels will introduce one to this “mind” of the Nazarene characterized by his actions, speech and teachings.

Review Questions on Chapter Two

Summary of Chapter Two

In chapter one Paul has counseled the Corinthians to have the “same mind” and the “same opinion.” [1 Corinthians 1:10] The first subject he raises that contributes to church disunity is the danger of the worldly wisdom of human philosophy. In chapter two Paul reminds them that he did not present the Christ to them in worldly philosophy. He explains why he was unable to speak to them the wisdom of God’s mysteries. He then goes on to contrast their problem: the physical [or, soul-like] person cannot understand spiritual things. Paul speaks words taught by the holy Pneuma – from the Mind of God. Though no one can perfectly know the things of the Absolute God, Christians can be Christ-minded.