September 15, 2022

1 Corinthians 2:6-16 (HCSB)
Spiritual Wisdom
6 However, we do speak a wisdom among the mature, but not a wisdom of this age, or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. 7 On the contrary, we speak God’s hidden wisdom in a mystery, a wisdom God predestined before the ages for our glory. 8 None of the rulers of this age knew this wisdom, for if they had known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 9 But as it is written: What eye did not see and ear did not hear, and what never entered the human mind— God prepared this for those who love Him. 10 Now God has revealed these things to us by the Spirit, for the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. 11 For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man that is in him? In the same way, no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who comes from God, so that we may understand what has been freely given to us by God. 13 We also speak these things, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual things to spiritual people. 14 But the unbeliever does not welcome what comes from God’s Spirit, because it is foolishness to him; he is not able to understand it since it is evaluated spiritually. 15 The spiritual person, however, can evaluate everything, yet he himself cannot be evaluated by anyone. 16 For who has known the Lord’s mind, that he may instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ.

Kati Andrews
Wisdom here does not mean “smart” but implies the ability to understand and act on that understanding accordingly. That is the difference between wisdom and knowledge. The two prior verses (Corinthians 2:4-5) make the distinction between “human wisdom” and the Spirit, and that our faith not be in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. As Christians we are called to live a life noticeably different from others. This calling begins with relying on the power of God versus that of men (or ourselves). It relies on that ability to understand and act accordingly. And both of those things rely on us staying focused on God, meditating on His Word, and pursuing our relationship with Him.