1 Corinthians 2:13

Which things also we speak, not in words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Spirit teacheth; combining spiritual things with spiritual words.

'Which things' -the "things" God prepared for those that love Him (1 Corinthians 2:9), the "things" which had never entered the mind of man (1 Corinthians 2:9), the "things" God revealed through the Spirit. Paul and the other inspired men of the N.T. didn't keep to themselves the revelation given to them.

'we speak' -they also wrote such "things" down. (Ephesians 3:3; 2 Peter 3:15; 1 Corinthians 14:37)

'not in words which man's wisdom teacheth' -'not in language taught by human philosophy' (TCNT). Ah! That's why the New Testament doesn't read like the writings of Plato, Aristotle, Socrates, Kant, Hume, etc...'The implication is that divine truths should not be communicated in rhetorical forms suitable for secular wisdom.' (F.F. Bruce p. 40)

Points to Note:

1. 'There is. way in which they do not proclaim them..Paul denied that the words he used in the proclamation of God's revelation were the words he came up with himself (on his own; purely from his own mental resources)...He has been consistently denying that any of the credit is to be laid at his feet. He had been. blind rabbi. He missed the Message. million miles. Now he is Christ's. Now he claims that the Spirit of God revealed to him what he knows about the Gospel.' (McGuiggan pp. 45-46)

2. 'The following was found among the graffiti on. wall at St. John's University: "And Jesus said unto them, 'Who do you say that. am?' And they replied, 'You are the eschatalogical manifestation of the ground of our being, the kerygma in which we find the ultimate meaning of our interpersonal relationship.' And Jesus said: 'What?'"

Commenting upon the above, Bill Love (Christian Appeal) wrote, "Jesus did not talk in the code language of the third year seminarian because he cared too much for...people...Jesus set forth the deepest truths about God and man in seemingly simple stories about. young runaway and his father, about. poor woman searching for her lost coin, and about. farmer sowing. field....Those who are as unpretentious and receptive as children will see God in these stories (parables); those who are full of their own achievement will 'go empty away'." Are you unsophisticated enough to grasp that? [Note:. Plain Talk. Vol. 17, No. 5, p. 1, Robert Turner.]

'but which the Spirit teacheth' -indicating that the words that Paul and other inspired men spoke (and wrote), where "words" given or taught by the Spirit.. clear claim for verbal inspiration. Paul specifically mentions "words". Paul wasn't given. concept by God and then left free to express it anyway he wanted to. He was "taught" Spirit given "words". (Matthew 10:19)

'combining' -originally meant to combine, to join together fitly. (Robertson p. 88) The word can also mean to 'compare, explain, or interpret.'

'spiritual things' -in the context, the "things" revealed by the Spirit, the spiritual truth once hidden, the gospel message, the wisdom of God.

'with spiritual words' -'spiritual thoughts with spiritual words' (NASV). While 'words' is in italics, indicating it was supplied by the translators to complete the thought. It is. logical conclusion. How else were "spiritual thoughts" made known? By what other means could spiritual thoughts be combined with or explained by?

Points to Note:

1. Every word given had. purpose. Other N.T. passages hint at this. (Matthew 5:17; Matthew 22:31; Galatians 3:16; Revelation 22:18)

2. No word is to be overlooked. The order of. sentence is also very important, i.e.. saved condition is placed AFTER baptism (Mark 16:16).

THE RECEPTION OF THIS WISDOM EXPERIENCED AMONG MEN: