1 Corinthians 2:6-16: a reflection

6We speak wisdom, however, among those who are full grown, yet a wisdom not of this world nor of the rulers of this world who are coming to nothing. 7But we speak God’s wisdom in a mystery, the wisdom that has been hidden, which God foreordained before the worlds for our glory, 8which none of the rulers of this world has known. For had they known it, they wouldn’t have crucified the Lord of glory. 9But as it is written, “Things which an eye didn’t see, and an ear didn’t hear, which didn’t enter into the heart of man, these God has prepared for those who love him.” 10But to us, God revealed them through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. 11For who among men knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so, no one knows the things of God except God’s Spirit. 12But we received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is from God, that we might know the things that were freely given to us by God. 13We also speak these things, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual things. 14Now the natural man doesn’t receive the things of God’s Spirit, for they are foolishness to him; and he can’t know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 15But he who is spiritual discerns all things, and he himself is to be judged by no one. 16“For who has known the mind of the Lord that he should instruct him?” But we have Christ’s mind.

Paul speaks of a wisdom that the world, for all its cleverness, cannot grasp: the wisdom of God, hidden, revealed only through the Spirit. The natural person, he says, does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. The deep things of God are not grasped by human wisdom or cleverness; they are known only as God's Spirit reveals them. But to us, Paul says, God has revealed them through the Spirit.

Notice the point Paul makes: the things of God are spiritually discerned, not graspable by human wisdom alone. The world, for all its intelligence, cannot understand the deep things of God; they seem foolishness to it, because they can only be understood through the Spirit. Just as only a person's own spirit knows their inner thoughts, so only God's Spirit knows the things of God, and reveals them to those who have received the Spirit. The things of God are not reached by cleverness, but revealed by the Spirit.

That truth is humbling and hopeful together. Humbling, because it means we cannot grasp the deep things of God by our own intelligence or effort; the things of the Spirit are foolishness to merely human wisdom, and beyond its reach. And hopeful, because God has given his Spirit to reveal them to us; what human wisdom cannot reach, the Spirit makes known. Do not approach the things of God trusting only in your own intelligence or cleverness; the deep things of God are spiritually discerned, and you need the Spirit to understand them. Depend on God's Spirit to reveal to you what human wisdom cannot reach. And take hope that God has not left the things of the Spirit beyond us; he has given his Spirit, who searches even the deep things of God, to make them known to those who are his. Rely on the Spirit, not mere cleverness, to grasp the things of God.

Lord, Paul speaks of a wisdom the world cannot grasp: the deep things of God, which the natural person cannot receive, for they are spiritually discerned, but which you have revealed to us through the Spirit. Let that truth humble and hearten me together. Humble me, because I cannot grasp the deep things of you by my own intelligence or effort; the things of the Spirit are foolishness to merely human wisdom, and beyond its reach. And hearten me, because you have given your Spirit to reveal them; what human wisdom cannot reach, the Spirit makes known. Keep me from approaching the things of you trusting only in my own intelligence or cleverness; the deep things of you are spiritually discerned, and I need the Spirit to understand them. Help me depend on your Spirit to reveal to me what human wisdom cannot reach. And let me take hope that you have not left the things of the Spirit beyond me; you have given your Spirit, who searches even the deep things of God, to make them known to those who are yours. Help me rely on your Spirit, Lord, not mere cleverness, to grasp the things of you. Reveal to me, by your Spirit, what I could never reach on my own.