1 Corinthians 2

1 Brothers and sisters, when I came to you I didn't try to impress you with wonderful words or great wisdom when I told you what God had to say to you.

And I, brothers, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring to you the testimony of God.

2 I decided that while I was with you I didn't want to concentrate on anything except Jesus Christ, and that he was crucified.

For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.

3 I came to you in weakness, fearful and trembling.

And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.

4 I didn't speak to you with persuasive words of wisdom to convince you. I just explained it all to you through the evidence and power of the Spirit.

And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:

5 That way your trust in God wouldn't rely on human wisdom but on the power of God.

That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.

6 However, we do use words of wisdom when we speak to those who are spiritually mature, but this isn't wisdom that comes from this world, or from the rulers of this world who soon fade from the scene. (aiōn g165)

However, we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nothing: (aiōn g165)

7 On the contrary we explain God's wisdom in terms of a revealed mystery that was previously hidden which God planned for our glory before the creation of the worlds. (aiōn g165)

But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world to our glory: (aiōn g165)

8 None of the rulers of this world understood anything about this—for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. (aiōn g165)

Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. (aiōn g165)

9 But as Scripture says, “No one has ever seen, and no one has ever heard, and no one has ever imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.”

But as it is written, Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God has prepared for them that love him.

10 But God has revealed this to us through the Spirit, because the Spirit delves into the depths of God.

But God has revealed them to us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.

11 Who knows anyone's thoughts except the actual person? In the same way no one knows God's thoughts except the Spirit of God.

For what man knows the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knows no man, but the Spirit of God.

12 For we have received the Spirit from God, not the spirit of this world, so that we could understand what God so generously gave us.

Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.

13 That's what we speak about—not using words taught by human wisdom, but what the Spirit teaches. We explain what is spiritual using spiritual terms.

Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teaches, but which the Holy Ghost teaches; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

14 Of course people who are not spiritual don't accept what comes from God's Spirit. It's just foolish nonsense to them, and they can't understand it, because what is spiritual has to be properly examined.

But the natural man receives not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness to him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

15 People who are spiritual investigate everything, but are not placed under investigation themselves.

But he that is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.

16 For “who understands the Lord's mind, and would think to instruct him?” But we do have Christ's mind!

For who has known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.