1 Corinthians 2:6-9

The apostle describes wisdom, of which he speaks from the viewpoint of its superhuman origin (1 Corinthians 2:6-7), then from that of its impenetrable obscurity to the natural understanding (1 Corinthians 2:8-9).

And first, its origin, what it is not (1 Corinthians 2:6 b), and what it is (1 Corinthians 2:7).

This wisdom is not a conception due to the mind of the world, nor even to the genius of its most illustrious representatives. The δέ indicates the resumption of the idea of σοφία, which is about to be developed; comp. the δικαιοσύνη δέ, Romans 6:22.

On αἰών, see on 1 Corinthians 1:20.

The ἄρχοντες, princes of this world, are not, as has been thought by Origen, Ambrosiaster, Bertholdt, the demons. Some have alleged the Johannine expression ὁ ἄρχων τοῦ κόσμου and Ephesians 6:12. But how could Paul say of the demons, in 1 Corinthians 2:8, that if they had known Jesus Christ, they would not have crucified Him? Precisely the opposite would be the case. It is equally mistaken to think with others, of the Greek philosophers, who could not be accused of having crucified the Lord (1 Corinthians 2:8). Paul rather means those who in his time directed the national mind of Israel, those who were the authorities in the Sanhedrim, and perhaps, also, of the Jewish and Gentile representatives of political power in Israel, such as Herod and Pilate. These representatives of human intelligence and politics took part directly or remotely in the execution of the Divine plan, without even suspecting it. And so its growing accomplishment goes to make them disappear. The present participle τῶν καταργουμένων, who are abolished, is connected by Meyer with the near date of the Parousia, and by Rückert with God's unchangeable decree. It seems to me that it is simpler to regard it as indicating the actual fact: in proportion as the power of the gospel increases on the earth, the representatives of human wisdom lose their dominion, which will end by escaping from their hands altogether.

In the following verse the apostle indicates the true origin of evangelical wisdom.