Watchtower ONLINE LIBRARY

1 Corinthians 2
New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures (Study Edition)

Overview of 1 Corinthians

- B. THE IMPORTANCE OF UNITY IN THE CHRISTIAN CONGREGATION (1:10–4:21)
  - 1. Factors contributing to unity and disunity (1:10–2:16)
    - Following humans results in divisions (1:10-17)
    - Recognizing Christ, the power and wisdom of God (1:18-25)
    - Boasting only in Jehovah, not in humans (1:26-31)
    - Preaching like Paul, not with extravagant speech or wisdom (2:1-5)
    - Recognizing the superiority of God’s wisdom (2:6-10)
    - Receiving the spirit that is from God; being a spiritual man (2:11-16)
  - 2. Cooperating with God to make the congregation grow and be united (3:1-23)
    - Fleshly thinking leads to strife and jealousy (3:1-4)
    - Humans are ministers, but God makes it grow (3:5-9)
    - Building with fire-resistant materials (3:10-15)
    - “You yourselves are God’s temple” (3:16, 17)
    - Worldly wisdom is foolishness with God (3:18-23)
  - 3. Further admonitions that contribute to unity (4:1-21)
    - Jehovah’s judgment is what matters (4:1-5)
    - Humble Christians do not think that they are better than their fellow believers (4:6-13)
    - Paul admonishes his spiritual children not to be puffed up with pride (4:14-21)

1 Corinthians 2:1

*
Or “with superiority of speech and of wisdom.”

+1Co 1:17
+Eph 3:5, 6; Col 2:2

Research Guide

Insight, Volume 2, p. 1193
Publications Index
it-2 1193;

w74 211; w73 374; ad 1663; w66 655; g62 8/8 4

1 Corinthians 2:2

+Ga 6:14

Publications Index
w66 655

1 Corinthians 2:3

Research Guide

The Watchtower,
7/15/2008, p. 27
Publications Index
w08 7/15 27;

km 6/77 1; w75 199; w74 415; w66 655

1 Corinthians 2:4

+Ro 15:18, 19; 1Co 4:20; 1Th 1:5

Research Guide

Insight, Volume 2, p. 1202
Publications Index
it-2 1202;

g78 7/8 27; w73 374; w66 655

1 Corinthians 2:5

Publications Index
w83 2/1 16-18; w74 211; w73 160; w73 374; w66 655

1 Corinthians 2:6

this system of things: Or “this age.”—See study note on 1Co 1:20.

*
Or “full-grown.” Lit., “perfect (ones).”

+1Co 14:20; Eph 4:13; Heb 5:14
+1Co 3:19, 20; 15:24

Publications Index
w64 46; g64 7/22 28; w54 158

1 Corinthians 2:7

God’s wisdom in a sacred secret: That is, the wise arrangement that God put in place for ending the rebellion that started in Eden and for bringing about universal peace and unity. (See Glossary, “Sacred secret.”) The declaration of the “sacred secret” (Greek, my·steʹri·on; see study note on Mt 13:11) began with Jehovah’s prophecy at Ge 3:15. Jehovah’s “sacred secret” centers on Jesus Christ. (Eph 1:9, 10; Col 2:2) It includes Jesus’ identity as the promised offspring, or Messiah, and his role in God’s Kingdom (Mt 13:11); the selection of anointed ones—taken from among both Jews and Gentiles—to be Christ’s joint heirs, with whom he shares the Kingdom (Lu 22:29, 30; Ro 11:25; Eph 3:3-6; Col 1:26, 27); and the unique nature of this congregation composed of 144,000 “bought from among mankind as firstfruits to God and to the Lamb” (Re 14:1, 4). These facets can be understood only by those who thoroughly study the Scriptures.

the hidden wisdom: Paul called the sacred secret “the hidden wisdom,” that is, hidden from “the rulers of this system of things.” (1Co 2:8) God through his spirit reveals this secret to his Christian servants so that they might make it public.

the systems of things: The Greek word used here, ai·onʹ, has the basic meaning “age.” It can refer to a state of affairs or to features that distinguish a certain period of time. In this context, the term refers to those systems that have developed during man’s history since the rebellion in Eden.—See Glossary, “System(s) of things,” and study note on 1Co 10:11.

+Ro 16:25, 26; Eph 3:8, 9; Col 1:26-28

Research Guide

Close to Jehovah, pp. 189-198

Insight, Volume 2, pp. 836-837, 1190

The Watchtower,
6/15/2003, pp. 24-25
6/1/1997, p. 13
8/15/1994, p. 13
Publications Index
cl 189, 191-198; it-2 836, 1190; w03 6/15 24-25; w97 6/1 13; w94 8/15 13;

g78 7/8 27; w64 46; g64 11/22 28; w63 203; w59 688; w54 158; w52 497; w51 374

1 Corinthians 2:8

executed: Or “executed (fastened) on a stake.”—See study note on Mt 20:19 and Glossary, “Stake”; “Torture stake.”

*
Or “this age.”

+Joh 7:48; Ac 13:27, 28
+Ac 4:10; 5:30

Research Guide

Insight, Volume 2, p. 1193

The Watchtower,
10/15/1986, pp. 6-7
Publications Index
it-2 1193; w86 10/15 6-7;

w65 659; w64 46; w54 158; w51 374; el 310

1 Corinthians 2:9

Eye has not seen and ear has not heard: The quotation in this verse is not found in the Hebrew Scriptures exactly as Paul words it. He seems to be combining the thoughts of Isa 52:15 and 64:4. Neither Paul nor Isaiah was referring to the future blessings that Jehovah has prepared for his people. Rather, Paul here applies Isaiah’s words to the blessings that first-century Christians were already enjoying, including their spiritual enlightenment and understanding of “the deep things of God.” (1Co 2:10) People who lack spirituality do not value such blessings. Their eye cannot see, or discern, spiritual truths, and their ear cannot hear, or understand, such things. Knowledge of “the things that God has prepared for those who love him” does not even enter into the hearts of such people. But God has revealed these precious truths through his spirit to men and women who, like Paul, are dedicated to Him.

+Isa 52:15; 64:4

Research Guide

Isaiah’s Prophecy II, p. 366

The Watchtower,
12/1/1989, p. 22
Publications Index
ip-2 366; w89 12/1 22;

w79 1/15 31; g79 11/8 24, 32; g78 7/8 27-28; w64 68; w61 433; g60 7/8 27; w57 433; g56 4/22 25; w54 158; w49 343; w44 76; w38 206; v-3 231; v-1 266

1 Corinthians 2:10

+Mt 16:17; Mr 4:11; Eph 3:5; 2Ti 1:9, 10; 1Pe 1:12
+Joh 14:26; 1Jo 2:27
+Ro 11:33

Research Guide

The Watchtower,
7/15/2010, pp. 20-24
11/1/2007, pp. 27-29
Publications Index
w10 7/15 20-24; w07 11/1 27-29;

g78 7/8 27-28; w73 186; w73 402; w65 390; g65 9/22 29; w64 68; w62 726; w61 342, 433; w60 104; w57 433; g56 4/22 25; w55 551; w51 374, 622; w49 343; w44 76; w38 100; v-3 231; w31 21; v-1 266

1 Corinthians 2:11

Research Guide

Awake!,
2/8/1998, pp. 14-15

The Watchtower,
4/1/1994, p. 19
4/1/1987, pp. 16-17
Publications Index
g98 2/8 15; w94 4/1 19; w87 4/1 16-17;

lp 114-115; w73 186; w52 499; w39 325; w31 21

1 Corinthians 2:12

the spirit of the world: Paul here refers to the dominant attitudes and inclinations of the world of humankind alienated from Jehovah God. Because of the pervasive influence of Satan, the spirit of the world is marked by selfishness, immorality, and disrespect for Jehovah and his righteous standards. (Eph 2:1-3; 1Jo 5:19) The spirit of the world works in direct opposition to the spirit that is from God, his holy spirit.—For a discussion of the term “spirit” as used in the Bible, see Glossary, “Spirit.”

+Joh 15:26

1 Corinthians 2:13

*
Or “combine.”
*
Or possibly, “as we explain spiritual matters to spiritual people.”

+Col 2:8
+Joh 16:13; 1Co 3:18

Publications Index
w74 211; w63 658; w62 76; w57 435; w31 21

1 Corinthians 2:14

a physical man: In this context, the term “physical man” does not refer merely to a human of flesh and blood. The expression is used in contrast with “the spiritual man” in verse 15, so it refers to a person who has no interest in or appreciation for spiritual matters. The Greek word for “physical” used here, psy·khi·kosʹ, is derived from the word psy·kheʹ, sometimes rendered “soul” in this translation. As used in the Bible, psy·kheʹ generally refers to that which is physical, tangible, visible, and mortal. (See Glossary, “Soul.”) So “a physical man” is one who is preoccupied with the desires that are associated with the physical or material life to the exclusion of spiritual things.—See study note on 1Co 2:15.

*
Or “receive.”

Research Guide

The Watchtower (Study),
2/2018, p. 19

Insight, Volume 2, p. 305

Awake!,
12/2009, p. 13

The Watchtower,
7/15/1989, pp. 12-13
Publications Index
w18.02 19; it-2 305; g 12/09 13; w89 7/15 12-13;

w76 559; w74 212; w73 463; w72 128, 306; w71 543; ad 1101; w62 78; w53 700; w51 300; w44 217; w39 325; w38 102; g31 9/16 827

1 Corinthians 2:15

the spiritual man: Lit., “the spiritual (one).” Paul here contrasts the spiritual man with the “physical man” mentioned in the preceding verse. (See study note on 1Co 2:14.) A spiritual person values spiritual matters and is guided by God’s spirit. God is very real to spiritually-minded people, and they strive to “become imitators of God.” (Eph 5:1) They endeavor to obtain God’s view of matters and meet his standards for living. The spiritual person examines, or clearly sees, the wrong course of the physical man.

+Ro 8:5

Research Guide

The Watchtower (Study),
2/2018, pp. 19-20

Insight, Volume 2, p. 305

The Watchtower,
7/15/1989, pp. 12-13
Publications Index
w18.02 19-20; it-2 305; w89 7/15 12-13;

w77 157; w74 212; w73 463; w72 306; w71 543; ad 1101; w69 409; w58 308; w53 700; g31 9/16 827

1 Corinthians 2:16

who has come to know the mind of Jehovah . . . ?: The answer to this rhetorical question is: “No one, of course.” (Compare Ro 11:33, 34, where Paul quotes from the same scripture, Isa 40:13.) Paul then says: “But we do have the mind of Christ.” Humans can never fully understand all of Jehovah’s thoughts. Christians can, however, come to know God better by studying “the mind of Christ” and cultivating his way of thinking because Christ is “the image of the invisible God.” (Col 1:15; see study note on we do have the mind of Christ in this verse.) In fact, the better a Christian understands Christ’s mind, the better he will understand God’s mind.

the mind of Jehovah: Paul is here quoting from Isa 40:13, where the Hebrew text reads “the spirit of Jehovah.” However, Paul was apparently quoting from the Septuagint, which uses “mind” (Greek, nous) instead of “spirit.” Although available manuscripts of both the Septuagint and the Christian Greek Scriptures read “mind of Lord,” there are solid reasons for believing that the divine name was used in corresponding manuscripts that existed in the first century C.E.—See App. A5, C1, and C2.

Jehovah: In this quote from Isa 40:13, the divine name, represented by four Hebrew consonants (transliterated YHWH), occurs in the original Hebrew text of Isaiah.—See App. C1 and C2.

we do have the mind of Christ: A Christian can have “the mind of Christ” by coming to know the pattern of Jesus’ thinking. Such a person meditates on all aspects of Christ’s personality and then adopts Christ’s way of thinking and imitates his example of humility and obedience. (1Pe 2:21) A Christian’s “dominant mental attitude” will then reflect the thinking of Christ, whose “mind” reflects the thinking of Jehovah.—Eph 4:23; Joh 14:9.

+Ps 92:5; Isa 40:13; Ro 11:34
+Ro 15:5; Php 2:5

Parallel Translations

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Quotation

General

New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures (Study Edition)

1 Corinthians 2:1-16

The First to the Corinthians

2 So when I came to you, brothers, I did not come with extravagant speech+ or wisdom* declaring the sacred secret+ of God to you. 2 For I decided not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ, and him executed on the stake.+ 3 And I came to you in weakness and in fear and with much trembling; 4 and my speech and what I preached were not with persuasive words of wisdom but with a demonstration of spirit and power,+ 5 so that your faith might be, not in men’s wisdom, but in God’s power.

6 Now we speak wisdom among those who are mature,*+ but not the wisdom of this system of things nor that of the rulers of this system of things, who are to come to nothing.+ 7 But we speak God’s wisdom in a sacred secret,+ the hidden wisdom, which God foreordained before the systems of things for our glory. 8 It is this wisdom that none of the rulers of this system of things* came to know,+ for if they had known it, they would not have executed the glorious Lord.+ 9 But just as it is written: “Eye has not seen and ear has not heard, nor have there been conceived in the heart of man the things that God has prepared for those who love him.”+ 10 For it is to us God has revealed them+ through his spirit,+ for the spirit searches into all things, even the deep things of God.+

11 For who among men knows the things of a man except the man’s spirit within him? So, too, no one has come to know the things of God except the spirit of God. 12 Now we received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit that is from God,+ so that we might know the things that have been kindly given us by God. 13 These things we also speak, not with words taught by human wisdom,+ but with those taught by the spirit,+ as we explain* spiritual matters with spiritual words.*

14 But a physical man does not accept* the things of the spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot get to know them, because they are examined spiritually. 15 However, the spiritual man examines all things,+ but he himself is not examined by any man. 16 For “who has come to know the mind of Jehovah, so that he may instruct him?”+ But we do have the mind of Christ.+