1 Corinthians 2:16 BSB

1 Corinthians 2:16

“For who has known the mind of the Lord, so as to instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ.

BSB

Parallel translations (2) ▾

ASV

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

KJV

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

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Commentary

3 voices

Tertullian

Against Marcion Book II (220)

Isaiah even so early, with the clearness of an apostle, foreseeing the thoughts of heretical hearts, asked, "Who hath known the mind of the Lord? For who hath been His counsellor? With whom took He counsel? ... or who taught Him knowledge, and showed to Him the way of understanding? " With whom the apostle agreeing exclaims, "Oh the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways past finding out!"

The record, by era

The Medieval Church1 voice

Theophylact of Ohrid

Commentary on 1 Corinthians (1107)

He calls the spiritual mind the mind of the Lord. The word "judge" (συμβιβάσει) stands in place of: correct (διορθώσεται). Having said above: "no one can judge about the spiritual," he now proves that he said this rightly. "For who has known the mind of …

The Nineteenth Century2 voices

Adam Clarke

1762–1832

Commentary on the Bible (1832)

For who hath known the mind of the Lord - Who that is still an animal man can know the mind of God? so as to instruct him, viz. the spiritual man, the same that is spoken of, 1Co 2:15. But the words may be better understood thus: How can the animal man know the mind of the Lord? and how can any man communicate that knowledge which he has never acquired, and which is foolishness to him, because it is spiritual, and he is animal? This quotation is made from Isa 40:

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

1802–1910

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)

So the Septuagint translates the Greek verb, which means to "prove," in Ac 9:22. Natural men who judge spiritual men, living according to the mind of God ("We have the mind of Christ"), are virtually wishing to instruct God, and bring Him to another mind, as counsellors setting to right their king. we have the mind of Christ--in our degree of capability to apprehend it.

Voices on this verse

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Original language & word study

13 tagged words

Original	Transliteration	Meaning	Word study
τίς	tis	Who	G5101 →
γὰρ	gar	for	G1063 →
ἔγνω	egnō	has known	G1097 →
νοῦν	noun	[the] mind	G3563 →
κυρίου,	kuriou	of [the] Lord?	G2962 →
ὃς	hos	Who	G3739 →
συμβιβάσει	sumbibasei	will instruct	G4822 →
αὐτόν;	auton	Him?	G846 →
ἡμεῖς	hēmeis	We ourselves	G3165 →
δὲ	de	however	G1161 →
νοῦν	noun	[the] mind	G3563 →
Χριστοῦ	Christou	of Christ	G5547 →
ἔχομεν.¶	echomen	have.	G2192 →

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
John 15:15
No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not understand what his master is doing. But I have called you friends, because everything I have learned from My Father I have…
leads to
- Psalms 25:14
  The LORD confides in those who fear Him, and reveals His covenant to them.
- 1 Corinthians 2:9–12
  Rather, as it is written: “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no heart has imagined, what God has prepared for those who love Him.”
- Matthew 13:11
  He replied, “The knowledge of the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them.
- James 2:23
  And the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called a friend of God.
- Colossians 1:26
  the mystery that was hidden for ages and generations but is now revealed to His saints.
Through
Romans 11:34
“Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been His counselor?”
leads to
- Isaiah 40:13
  Who has directed the Spirit of the LORD, or informed Him as His counselor?
- Jeremiah 23:18
  But which of them has stood in the council of the LORD to see and hear His word? Who has given heed to His word and obeyed it?
  Reached by 2 independent paths from here.
- Job 15:8
  Do you listen in on the council of God or limit wisdom to yourself?

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

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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