RSV ~ 1 Corinthians 2 Notes

1 Cor 2:1 | ISB Notes

When I came to you: i.e., when Paul first evangelized Corinth (Acts 18:1-17).

1 Cor 2:3 | ISB Notes

fear and trembling: A biblical expression for one’s reaction to the power and presence of Almighty God (Ex 20:18; Ps 2:11; Ezek 12:18; Phil 2:12).

1 Cor 2:4 | ISB Notes

in demonstration of the Spirit: Even the most dynamic proclamations of the gospel remain ineffective unless the Spirit moves the minds and hearts of the listeners to accept it (Phil 1:29). Paul implies that his own modest speaking ability was a weakness that enabled God’s power to work more perfectly through him (2 Cor 12:9). The idea running throughout this passage is that God saves the world through what is foolish and weak so that he alone can be praised for the result (1 Cor 1:2129).

See word study: Unskilled at 2 Cor 11.

1 Cor 2:6 | ISB Notes

the mature: Or, “the perfect”. Paul differentiates between Christians who have reached spiritual adulthood and those who are merely “infants” (3:1). Ironically, the immature Corinthians are the ones who consider themselves the most wise and spiritually advanced.

1 Cor 2:7 | ISB Notes

a secret and hidden wisdom: The divine plan to save the world through a crucified Messiah was once concealed from the Gentiles and only dimly reflected in the OT.

1 Cor 2:8 | ISB Notes

rulers of this age: The Jewish and Roman authorities who collaborated to execute Jesus were culpable for their crimes and yet ignorant of God’s plan to redeem the world through his death (Acts 3:17; 4:27-28; CCC 591, 597).

1 Cor 2:9 | ISB Notes

What no eye has seen: A paraphrase of Is 64:4.

• Isaiah marvels that no one has ever seen or heard a God like Yahweh, who is always faithful to deliver those who hope in him. The final words of this quotation are not from Isaiah but seemingly from Sir 1:10, where God’s unsearchable wisdom is a gift promised to those who love him. Paul draws Isaiah and Sirach together to stress that what God has long prepared in secret he has now made known to the world through the Spirit (CCC 1027).

1 Cor 2:10 | ISB Notes

the Spirit searches everything: The Spirit is uniquely qualified to probe the mind of God and make known his wise plans (Dan 4:9). As an interior guide for believers, the Spirit enlightens us about the spiritual gifts and truths that God has given in Christ (1 Cor 2:12-13; CCC 687, 2038).

1 Cor 2:14 | ISB Notes

unspiritual man: The unredeemed man who lacks both the Spirit and spiritual discernment.

1 Cor 2:15 | ISB Notes

spiritual man: The mature Christian who has both the Spirit and spiritual wisdom (2:6).

1 Cor 2:16 | ISB Notes

For who has known: A reference to Is 40:13.

• Isaiah’s rhetorical question anticipates a negative answer, i.e., no mortal man has access to the mind of God or is capable of informing him of truths he does not already know. Paul concludes from this that divine wisdom is beyond the reach of human understanding and can be known by men only if it is revealed by God himself (Wis 9:13-18; CCC 1998).