1 Corinthians 2:7 BSB

1 Corinthians 2:7

No, we speak of the mysterious and hidden wisdom of God, which He destined for our glory before time began.

BSB

Parallel translations (2) ▾

ASV

but we speak God’s wisdom in a mystery, even the wisdom that hath been hidden, which God foreordained before the worlds unto our glory:

KJV

But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:

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Commentary

4 voices

Tertullian

Against Marcion Book V (220)

These, we know, were publicly instituted in Israel; but they lay overshadowed with latent meanings, in which the wisdom of God was concealed to be brought to light by and by amongst "the perfect," when the time should come, but "pre-ordained in the counsels of God before the ages." But whose ages, if not the Creator's?

The record, by era

The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice

John Gill

1697–1771

Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748)

But we speak the wisdom of God,.... Not of men, not of the wise politicians, the learned philosophers and Rabbins; that which human wisdom has no hand in forming, nor in revealing, nor in propagating, and which is disliked and disapproved of by it: the Gospel is the sole produce of divine wisdom, and in which there is a glorious display of it; even in those doctrines which are the most charged with folly, as salvation by a crucified Christ, justification by his righteousness, pardon by his blood, satisfaction by his sacrifice, &c. in a mystery; it is mysterious wisdom.

The Nineteenth Century2 voices

Albert Barnes

1798–1870

Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)

But we speak - We who have preached the gospel. The wisdom of God - We teach or proclaim the wise plan of God for the salvation of people; we make known the divine wisdom in regard to the scheme of human redemption. This plan was of God, in opposition to other plans which were of human beings. In a mystery, even the hidden wisdom - ἐν μυστηρίῳ τὴν ἀποκεκρυμμένην en mustēriō tēn apokekrummenēn.

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

1802–1910

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)

"If our Gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost" (2Co 4:3), "whom the God of this world hath blinded." Ordinarily we use "mystery" in reference to those from whom the knowledge is withheld; the apostles, in reference to those to whom it is revealed [WHATELY].

Voices on this verse

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Original language & word study

18 tagged words

Original	Transliteration	Meaning	Word study
ἀλλὰ	alla	But	G235 →
λαλοῦμεν	laloumen	we speak	G2980 →
θεοῦ	theou	of God	G2316 →
σοφίαν	sophian	wisdom	G4678 →
ἐν	en	in	G1722 →
μυστηρίῳ	mustēriō	a mystery	G3466 →
τὴν	tēn	which	G3588 →
ἀποκεκρυμμένην,	apokekrummenēn	hidden,	G613 →
ἣν	hēn	which	G3739 →
προώρισεν	proōrisen	foreordained	G4309 →
ὁ	ho	<the>	G3588 →
θεὸς	theos	God	G2316 →
πρὸ	pro	before	G4253 →
τῶν	tōn	the	G3588 →
αἰώνων	aiōnōn	ages	G165 →
εἰς	eis	for	G1519 →
δόξαν	doxan	glory	G1391 →
ἡμῶν,	hēmōn	of us,	G3165 →

Rare words are the text's own signal of a deliberate thread: the fewer the occurrences, the more the places it appears belong together.

The walk

The walk8

Where the connections lead

Follow this verse’s cross-references two steps out. Each card is a verse this one points to, and beneath it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several different paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it. Every stop shows its own words, and every stop is a page.

Through
Matthew 13:35
So was fulfilled what was spoken through the prophet: “I will open My mouth in parables; I will utter things hidden since the foundation of the world.”
leads to
- Psalms 78:2
  I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things hidden from the beginning,
- Ephesians 3:9
  and to illuminate for everyone the stewardship of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things.
- 1 Peter 1:20–21
  He was known before the foundation of the world, but was revealed in the last times for your sake.
Through
2 Peter 1:3
His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through the knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.
leads to
- 1 Peter 5:10
  And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself restore you, secure you, strengthen you, and establish…
- 2 Timothy 1:9
  He has saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works, but by His own purpose and by the grace He granted us in Christ Jesus before time began.
- Romans 8:28–30
  And we know that God works all things together for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose.
- 1 Corinthians 3:21–23
  Therefore, stop boasting in men. All things are yours,
- Psalms 84:11
  For the LORD God is a sun and a shield; the LORD gives grace and glory; He withholds no good thing from those who walk with integrity.

Featured studies on this passage

Walks through 1 Corinthians 2

Who the Holy Spirit Is

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About 1 Corinthians

The Crucifixion — 'Christ crucified' (1 Cor 2:2) — Gustave Doré (engraving, public domain)

1 Corinthians: the study guide →Read chapter 2 →The featured study →

Wisdom
A hidden, pre-ordained wisdom now disclosed in the gospel

Continue: 1 Corinthians 2 →

01Commentary

The record, by era

Voices on this verse

02Original language & word study

03The walk

Where the connections lead

04Related verses

05Featured studies on this passage

06About 1 Corinthians

The record, by era

Where the connections lead

Commentary

Original language & word study

The walk

Related verses

Featured studies on this passage

About 1 Corinthians