1 Corinthians 2:6-10

The Spirit Reveals God's Wisdom

Paul indicated he was ready to speak with wisdom from God if his listeners were ready to hear it. However, he would not speak with a worldly wisdom, which would have resulted in giving them nothing. Instead, he was prepared to speak with the wisdom which was from God. McGarvey shows that Paul on several occasions spoke of the gospel as a mystery (Romans 16:25; Ephesians 3:4-9; Colossians 1:26; 1 Timothy 3:16). It took wisdom from above to make known God's plan of salvation which had long been hidden, but was revealed in Christ. McGarvey goes on to show that it continued to be a mystery to those who, out of their wickedness, refused to hear (1 Corinthians 2:6-7; Matthew 11:25; Matthew 13:10-13).

The "rulers of this world" had proven they were ignorant, in respect to this mystery, when they crucified our Lord. Jesus prayed, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do" (Luke 23:34). Paul cited Isaiah 64:4 to show man did not understand God's plan of salvation. It took the revealing work of the Holy Spirit for men to come to an understanding of God's mystery. Man, through his wisdom, could not have discovered the truth. Specifically, God's inspired spokesmen were the ones through whom the Spirit made the mystery known. Through them, for the first time, God perfectly made known the plans he had kept in his heart since before creation (1 Corinthians 2:8-10).