1 Corinthians 2:13 kjv
Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
1 Corinthians 2:13 nkjv
These things we also speak, not in words which man's wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
1 Corinthians 2:13 niv
This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words.
1 Corinthians 2:13 esv
And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.
1 Corinthians 2:13 nlt
When we tell you these things, we do not use words that come from human wisdom. Instead, we speak words given to us by the Spirit, using the Spirit's words to explain spiritual truths.
1 Corinthians 2 13 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference Note |
|---|---|---|
| Isa 55:8-9 | "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the LORD. “For as the heavens..." | God's thoughts transcend human ways |
| Job 28:20-28 | "Where then does wisdom come from?...God understands its way, and He knows its place. For He looks to..." | God alone possesses and grants wisdom |
| Prov 2:6 | "For the LORD gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding..." | Wisdom originates from God's mouth |
| Jer 1:9 | Then the LORD put forth His hand and touched my mouth, and the LORD said to me: “Behold, I have put My..." | God puts His words in the prophet's mouth |
| Matt 10:19-20 | "But when they deliver you up, do not worry about how or what you should speak. For it will be given..." | Spirit provides words in testimony |
| Matt 11:25 | At that time Jesus answered and said, “I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have..." | Wisdom hidden from wise, revealed to babes |
| John 14:26 | "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things..." | Spirit teaches all things |
| John 16:13 | "However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not..." | Spirit guides into all truth |
| Acts 4:31 | And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all..." | Spirit fills apostles to speak word boldly |
| Rom 1:22 | Professing to be wise, they became fools... | Human wisdom leads to foolishness |
| Rom 8:5-7 | For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live... | Carnal mind opposed to God, cannot discern |
| 1 Cor 1:17 | For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with wisdom of words, lest the..." | Gospel preached without human eloquence |
| 1 Cor 1:19 | For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, And bring to nothing the understanding..." | God destroys human wisdom |
| 1 Cor 2:1 | And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to..." | Paul's method not human eloquence |
| 1 Cor 2:4-5 | And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of..." | Power is from Spirit, not human words |
| 1 Cor 2:10 | But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep..." | Spirit reveals God's deep things |
| 1 Cor 2:12 | Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know..." | Received Spirit to understand God's gifts |
| 1 Cor 2:14 | But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him..." | Natural man cannot discern spiritual things |
| 1 Cor 2:16 | For “who has known the mind of the LORD that he may instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ. | Believers have the mind of Christ for discernment |
| 2 Cor 3:5-6 | Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency... | Sufficiency for ministry is from God, Spirit |
| Eph 1:17 | that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and..." | Spirit gives wisdom and revelation |
| Eph 3:3-5 | how that by revelation He made known to me the mystery...which in other ages was not made known to the..." | Mystery revealed by Spirit to apostles |
| 1 Thess 1:5 | For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit and in much..." | Gospel in power of Spirit, not just words |
| 2 Tim 3:16 | All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction..." | Scripture is Spirit-breathed |
| 2 Pet 1:20-21 | knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never..." | Holy men spoke as moved by Holy Spirit |
| 1 John 2:20 | But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things. | Anointing from Spirit gives knowledge |
| 1 John 2:27 | But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone..." | Spirit's anointing teaches all things |
1 Corinthians 2 verses
1 Corinthians 2 13 Meaning
This verse declares that the apostolic message, containing the profound wisdom of God, is conveyed not through human rhetorical skills or philosophical prowess but by means of the Holy Spirit's instruction. The Spirit teaches the speakers both what to say and how to say it, enabling them to interpret and communicate spiritual truths using divinely consistent and appropriate spiritual language and concepts. It signifies a divine method of conveying divine revelation.
1 Corinthians 2 13 Context
First Corinthians 2:13 is nestled within Paul’s powerful argument contrasting human wisdom with God’s divine wisdom, especially as revealed in the crucified Christ. Chapters 1-3 address the Corinthian church's divisions, which were partly fueled by an overvaluation of worldly eloquence and human philosophical distinctions, possibly mimicking the practices of popular sophists in Corinth. Paul asserts that his preaching was not based on human persuasive rhetoric (1 Cor 2:1, 4) but on the Spirit’s power, so faith might rest on God, not human ability. Having just stated that only the Spirit comprehends God’s thoughts and has revealed them to believers (1 Cor 2:10-12), verse 13 explains how these Spirit-revealed truths are then communicated by the apostles. It prepares the reader for the subsequent distinction between the natural man, who cannot receive spiritual truths, and the spiritual man, who discerns them (1 Cor 2:14-16). The historical context shows Corinth as a vibrant, Hellenistic city that admired rhetorical skill and intellectual prowess. Paul actively refutes the notion that God’s truth should be presented in the same manner as secular philosophy or oratorical competitions.
1 Corinthians 2 13 Word analysis
- These things: Refers to the "deep things of God" (1 Cor 2:10) and the "things that have been freely given to us by God" (1 Cor 2:12) – the spiritual realities and divine wisdom revealed by the Holy Spirit.
- we also speak: Signifies the apostolic declaration or proclamation of the revealed divine truth. The "we" likely refers to Paul and other Spirit-empowered apostles/teachers who faithfully convey God’s message.
- not in words: The Greek is ouk en didaktois anthrōpinēs sophias logois (οὐκ ἐν διδακτοῖς ἀνθρωπίνης σοφίας λόγοις), emphasizing a qualitative difference.
- logois (λόγοις): "words," "discourses," "expressions." It denotes the specific language, concepts, and modes of speech used.
- didaktois (διδακτοῖς): "taught," "instructed." It stresses the origin or source of the teaching.
- man’s wisdom (anthrōpinēs sophias - ἀνθρωπίνης σοφίας): Human-derived intellectual schemes, philosophical reasoning, and eloquent rhetoric characteristic of Greek culture and sophistry. Paul explicitly rejects this as the vehicle for divine revelation. This is a direct polemic against the Corinthian overemphasis on human cleverness.
- but which the Holy Spirit teaches: The contrasting origin and instructor.
- pneumatos didaktois (Πνεύματος διδακτοῖς): "taught by the Spirit." The Holy Spirit is the active agent who instructs or imparts the appropriate words and concepts, ensuring that the message conveyed maintains its divine essence.
- comparing spiritual things with spiritual: The critical phrase sygkrinontes pneumatikois pneumatika (συγκρίνοντες πνευματικοῖς πνευματικά).
- sygkrinontes (συγκρίνοντες): The Greek present active participle means "combining," "interpreting," "explaining," "fitting together," or "comparing." In the context of verbal communication, it points to the method of explaining.
- pneumatika (πνευματικά): Neuter plural adjective used as a noun, meaning "spiritual things" or "spiritual truths." This refers to the content of God’s revelation.
- pneumatikois (πνευματικοῖς): This dative plural term is subject to two primary interpretations:
- "to spiritual persons/men" (masculine dative): This suggests explaining spiritual truths to those who are spiritual (i.e., regenerate, indwelt by the Spirit). The implication is that only Spirit-empowered people can properly receive Spirit-taught truths.
- "with spiritual things/words/means" (neuter dative): This implies explaining spiritual truths using spiritual words or spiritual concepts. This fits better with the immediate context which contrasts human words with Spirit-taught words, focusing on the how the message is conveyed. It implies that God's truth requires God's language and categories, not human ones. For example, using the language and concepts of Scripture itself, which is Spirit-breathed.
- The latter interpretation ("with spiritual things/words") is often preferred by scholars due to the consistent contrast with "words of human wisdom" throughout the chapter and Paul’s emphasis on the Spirit's role in guiding expression. It underlines that not only the content (what) but also the method (how) of presenting God's truth must be divinely aligned.
1 Corinthians 2 13 Bonus section
- The emphasis on the Holy Spirit as the teacher both for reception (1 Cor 2:10-12) and transmission (1 Cor 2:13) of God's wisdom highlights the utterly divine origin and nature of the Gospel message. It prevents human beings from claiming intellectual credit for its profound truth.
- The phrase sygkrinontes (interpreting/comparing) can also carry the nuance of "fitting together" or "combining" distinct spiritual truths, perhaps suggesting that the Holy Spirit aids in bringing disparate elements of revelation into a coherent whole for proper presentation. This reinforces the idea of God’s complete and integrated revelation.
- Paul's entire argument in 1 Corinthians 1-3 serves as a profound call for humility in handling God's word. It redirects focus from human performance to divine enablement, challenging any form of spiritual pride or reliance on intellect apart from the Spirit.
1 Corinthians 2 13 Commentary
In 1 Corinthians 2:13, Paul underscores a fundamental principle of divine revelation and its communication: God's profound wisdom, accessible only through the Holy Spirit, must also be articulated through the Spirit's guidance, not human ingenuity. The apostles do not employ worldly rhetoric or philosophical argumentation, which captivated the Corinthians, because such approaches would dilute the divine message and compromise its power. Instead, the Spirit teaches the speakers the very language and conceptual framework required to express spiritual realities accurately. This process of "comparing spiritual things with spiritual" signifies a method of explanation that uses Spirit-given truths to interpret other spiritual truths, employing spiritual concepts and terms that resonate with those who possess the Spirit. It ensures that the message retains its divine origin and power, providing clarity and conviction to those capable of spiritual discernment, distinguishing God’s revealed truth from man-made wisdom. For believers, this means prioritizing Scripture's truth over philosophical speculation and trusting the Spirit's guidance in understanding and communicating God's word.