1 Corinthians 2:6-8

Scripture: 1 Cor. 2:6 Yet we do speak wisdom among those who are mature; a wisdom, however, not of this age nor of the rulers of this age, who are passing away;

1 Cor. 2:7 but we speak God’s wisdom in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God predestined before the ages to our glory;

1 Cor. 2:8 the wisdom which none of the rulers of this age has understood; for if they had understood it they would not have crucified the Lord of glory;

Teaching: Paul’s words in verse 6 must have grabbed the attention of the Corinthians after all he’s said about how foolish his message of the Gospel was, now he (and the other apostles, hence the “we”) speak some wisdom – do tell! But Paul qualifies this with the phrase “among those who are mature.” He is speaking of maturity in the faith, a growing and lived understanding and trust of one’s position and identity in Christ. This can also be called spiritual maturity. As I like to define this term, the degree to which who you are in Christ is who you are in the world today.

When it comes to God and His Creation, the contrast between what is understood by those who are or are not spiritually mature, in this case, defined by one’s outlook on eternity. Paul’s letters show he viewed this life as but a flicker of a flame compared to eternity with Christ; thus, his actions in his life reflected that view. On the contrary, the wisdom of “this age” and the “rulers of this age, who are passing away” fails to account for what happens after death. This kind of wisdom knows how to build great cities, wealth, power, and the likes, but it fails to grasp what is more important – what happens when one passes away, all those worldly things are relinquished, and faces judgement uncovered by the blood of Christ.

Thus, these rulers Paul speaks of, had they understood what the mystery of God was, that God came into this world, incarnate, and died for our sins, then, “they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.” But, in God’s wisdom, He had ordained this once and for all sacrifice “before the ages to our glory.” God’s wisdom knew it would be necessary for Christ to die, and God’s great love for us saw the plan through.

Takeaway: Reading through the Gospel’s, you will hear Jesus often say, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” Paul makes a similar claim in 1 Corinthians 2:6-8. Paul beckons his audience to hear, understand, and be corrected by the wisdom of God. For those who already have received the Gospel and are born again in Christ, his words here give encouragement to hold fast to God’s wisdom over the wisdom of the age. These two forms of wisdom often run counter to each other, and it can be hard to stand firm against the tides of our times. But Paul says here that these things will pass away, but God’s Word, God’s Wisdom, will not. Today, if you are feeling pressured to turn from God’s Word to the wisdom of the world, stand firm. As Jesus said, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away” (Matt. 24:35). Standing on God’s Word is always right.