1 Corinthians 2:10, commentary and pictures

God has revealed to believers by His Spirit what no human senses, reason or wisdom could ever discover, for the Spirit alone knows the things of God and searches even His deepest things. What was hidden and prepared for those who love Him, the wisdom ordained before the world unto glory that the princes of this world did not know, centers in Jesus Christ and Him crucified, the atoning sacrifice around which all truth clusters. This revelation does not come through excellency of speech or enticing words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that faith rests in the power of God and not in men. It is discerned only by a converted, sanctified mind in humble, prayerful, diligent searching of Scripture, for a mind trained only in worldly science cannot see it, and carnal strife and self-reliance close the heart against it. Received in this way it humbles pride, transforms character into righteousness and new life in Christ, and gives power to proclaim Christ plainly and to grow in grace while sharing ever deeper truth with others.

Wording and Immediate Context

The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God, because the Spirit alone knows the things of God and alone is capable of searching them. What no human can know by human wisdom alone is known by the Spirit, and God's truth is made known through the Spirit's searching. Understanding of God's Word comes through the illumination of that same Spirit by whom the Word was given, and its truths keep unfolding to God's people.

The verse completes the declaration about the hidden wisdom God ordained before the world unto glory for believers. That wisdom is a mystery unknown to the princes of this world who crucified Christ, and it centers in Jesus Christ and Him crucified, the sacrifice of Christ as atonement for sin with the Son of God uplifted on Calvary. Around that sacrifice all other truths from Genesis to Revelation cluster and in its light they must be studied. The verse also closes the declaration about the things God has prepared for those who love Him, which eye has not seen nor ear heard nor entered the heart of man, teaching that God has revealed them to believers by His Spirit who searches all things, even the depths of God. That revealing does not come with excellency of speech or enticing words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that faith stands not in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. Recognizing Christ in both His human and divine nature is possible because God discloses what human understanding cannot explain.

The gospel is a mystery hidden for ages that human wisdom gains nothing by trying to sound. The world by wisdom knew not God, and the things prepared for those who love Him are revealed only by His Spirit, for the Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. The same laws that govern earthly seed-sowing and reaping govern the sowing of the seeds of truth, so in gospel work the Word of God is to be communicated as truth and interwoven with the whole practical life.

The verse belongs to the first, second, and third chapters of First Corinthians, which are of greatest importance and are to be read with much prayer so that God gives understanding of the truths revealed there and they can be put into practice. Those chapters teach that God destroys the wisdom of the wise and brings to nothing the understanding of the prudent, that the world by wisdom knew not God, and that men given to worldly pursuits count the preaching of the cross as foolishness. They teach that preaching centers on Jesus Christ and Him crucified, with the Spirit teaching spiritual things, and that true wisdom and knowledge come from God rather than from human learning alone to guide education and life. They teach that ministers by whom believers believed are one in object though their work differs, for one plants and another waters but God gives the increase, and every man receives his own reward according to his own labor, so division, envy, strife, jealousy, and condemnation over differing presentations must be put away for the Spirit as Comforter and Strengthener to work. They teach that God has chosen the foolish, weak, base, despised, and nonexistent things to confound the wise and bring to nothing things that are so that no flesh should glory in His presence, and that Christ is made unto those in Him wisdom and righteousness and sanctification and redemption.

The chapter is to be studied and practiced as instruction for overcoming indulged appetite for alcohol and stimulating drinks and for cooperating fully with total abstinence. It directs to arousing the moral powers and looking to Jesus for grace to overcome unnatural craving, to keeping the body in healthful condition and the intellect clear and active for God's service, and to thinking soberly.

God Reveals Through Spirit

God reveals by His Spirit what human senses, reason, understanding and wisdom cannot discover on their own. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God, and therefore knows and makes known the hidden wisdom of God and what He has freely given and has prepared for those who love Him. Spiritual truths are discerned spiritually, while the natural person cannot receive or know them, and the blessings revealed are for faithful, humble followers who continue to know the Lord and are not reached by human wisdom. The Spirit is the believer's true source of understanding, for human beings cannot become wisdom for one another apart from God.

The revelation does not come with excellency of speech or enticing words of man's wisdom, eloquence, learning, oratory, philosophy or reasoned proof. It comes in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that faith should stand in the power of God and not in the wisdom of men. Its substance is Jesus Christ and Him crucified, the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom ordained before the world unto glory which none of the princes of this world knew and which eye has not seen nor ear heard nor entered into the heart of man. The Spirit is able to reveal it because the Spirit searches all things, yea, the deep things of God, and the illumination of the soul needs the life of the Spirit of God. Laborers must learn this at the foot of the cross, preach Christ crucified plainly, lift up and exalt Jesus while keeping self out of sight, present eternal truths and human peril rather than preach to please ears, and depend on the power of God and teaching of the Holy Ghost. The Spirit imparts unity, strength and quickening energy for duty, strives in human hearts, and alone produces deep, thorough and substantial conversion with abundant fruit, while all work by human energy without the Holy Spirit is of no value for soul-saving. Such simple preaching humbles the wise and learned, brings confession of pride, transforms character which God alone can do, and requires sanctified humility lest truth be dishonored and the Holy Spirit grieved, for the promise is large with present possibilities to be grasped by faith.

Understanding of the Word comes through illumination by the same Spirit by whom the Word was given, who alone knows the things of God. Through the Spirit God's truth continually unfolds and keeps unfolding to His people. The Spirit continually unfolds truth, guides into all truth, brings God's words to remembrance, enables a person to know spiritual things, receive the Word meekly, understand Scripture's true meaning, and give God the glory. Those who receive the Spirit of Christ meekly accept the truth as it is unfolded, and the Spirit who reveals truth also works within the believer to produce righteousness.

The Spirit teaches spiritual things and enables them to be understood by comparing spiritual things with spiritual, for God's truth comes through the Spirit rather than human wisdom. Every heart that has received Christ is entrusted with ability to discern Christ in His message. The wisdom needed to grasp the revelations of God's Word comes from God, not from human intelligence, opening the mystery of godliness hidden through the ages in the Father and the Son. Human wisdom and interpretations cannot unfold these things and miss God's eternal purposes; only the Holy Spirit's power can. Human reason by itself cannot explain the deep things of God or understand the spiritual lessons God has placed in the material world. Reason is a gift from God, and His Spirit helps those who are willing to be taught and gives them access to the deep things of God.

Content of the Revelation

The hidden wisdom made known by the Spirit centers in Jesus Christ and Him crucified, the sacrifice of Christ as atonement for sin, the Son of God uplifted on the cross of Calvary. It is the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom ordained before the world unto glory, which none of the princes of this world knew. All other truths from Genesis to Revelation cluster around this great central truth, and in its light they must be studied. It is not made known with excellency of speech or enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that faith stands not in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. It is given to ministers who deeply feel their inefficiency and entire dependence on Christ, who do not seek to be above others but hide self in Christ so that Christ alone is seen as exalted and altogether lovely, and those who study the Redeemer's sacrifice in this way grow in grace and knowledge.

The things prepared for those who love Him and revealed by the Spirit are joy beyond human sight or imagination and an eternal weight of glory, including the hope of sharing Christ's inheritance. They are marvelous blessings to be expected by faithful, humble followers of Jesus Christ who follow on to know the Lord and continue to know Him. They are not reached by human wisdom, but the Spirit who searches all things, even the deep things of God, makes these heavenly realities known to believers.

The revelation includes recognition of Christ's glory, and recognizing Christ in both His human and divine nature is possible because God discloses what human understanding cannot explain. Human beings cannot reach this divine knowledge through their own wisdom or goodness, but the Spirit of adoption makes it known. Peter's recognition of Christ's glory was evidence that God had taught him. This hidden wisdom was ordained before the world for humanity's glory, and the rulers who crucified Christ did not know it.

The revelation also includes the mystery of godliness hidden through the ages in the Father and the Son, which human senses and wisdom cannot discover and which is grasped by wisdom from God rather than human intelligence. It includes the profound meaning of the Jewish rites and symbols, which the gospel and knowledge of the plan of redemption open to understanding, truths so wonderful that angels desire to look into them. It includes the prophecies about the last days, found by those who search God's Word with contrite hearts and pray for wisdom, bringing important discoveries. In Revelation these truths are portrayed for those whose hearts are wholly devoted to God, faith enables them to see their priceless worth, putting the truth into practice brings deeper mysteries into the soul to be shared with others, while angels impress the message on hearts.

The Spirit who searches the deep things of God enlightens the mind of those who have implicit faith in Christ so that the truths in Scripture, especially the vital truths on which salvation depends, can be understood and appreciated, and through this light the way of life is made plain. The deep things include His infinite wisdom and the truths seen in the laws of science and nature, and growing in this knowledge deepens understanding of God's love and increases desire for wisdom to comprehend Him.

The revelation opens blind understanding so people can see God, know Him by experience, trust His word, and become partakers of the divine nature. The Holy Spirit quickens the perceptive faculties and strengthens spiritual eyesight to discern what natural eyes cannot see, ears cannot hear, and minds cannot comprehend, including how man can be a counterpart of Jesus Christ. These are things beyond human sight, hearing, or imagination, yet made possible to know by the Spirit who searches all things, even the deep things of God. These precious, exalted mysteries thus revealed cannot be fully described by pen or voice.

Like a lighted candle the Spirit searches the hidden things of the heart that must be overcome, for without overcoming them no one will see the kingdom of God. The Spirit also searches people's thoughts and purposes and bears faithful witness to God's Word, bringing divine truth to them. That same Spirit transforms thought to bring it into harmony with God's will and is the source of power for restoring God's moral image in humanity.

Receiving the Revelation

A mind trained only in worldly science cannot discern the deep things, for they are revealed by the Spirit who searches all things, even the deep things of God. Only a mind converted and sanctified can see divine power in the Word, and only a mind cleansed by the Spirit's sanctifying work and yielded to its teaching through the Word can discern heavenly things.

Understanding them calls for humble, teachable submission and prayerful dependence on God with a sincere desire to learn and do His will, as far as mortals are able, rather than self-reliance or methods suited to philosophical problems. Without that spirit intellectual effort alone cannot master scriptural difficulties, and evil angels can blind the mind and harden the heart against truth. Even difficult passages can then give comfort and instruction to those taught by God.

Receiving calls for diligent, thoughtful, earnest searching of Scripture as for hidden treasure, with contrite hearts, humility, and prayer for wisdom, for a lifetime of laborious searching by reason and logical argument leaves man ignorant and confused and that knowledge is found alone in the Bible. Scripture itself unlocks Scripture, and its hidden truths, including especially the prophecies about the last days, are found by those who search and are willing to accept and follow every ray of divine light, aided by God's angels who impress hearts. Finite minds do not fully comprehend Scripture but grow as God's Word opens to them, for the Bible contains truths all may understand as well as mysteries and doctrines requiring deep thought, and no inspired portion is to be misinterpreted, weakened, or treated as less inspired than others.

Receiving requires a sensitive, receptive frame of mind so the Holy Spirit can impress rays of light upon the heart through any discourse preached, any advice given, and all connection with brethren and sisters, with the things revealed kept continually in thought. The Spirit unfolds truth pertaining to peace and holiness more clearly to the person who heeds God's Word and receives it meekly with the mind of Christ, impressing the mind to enable understanding of what God has revealed. The yielded heart becomes receptive to the teachings of the Word and able to understand the deep things and know the things freely given, and must not try to work the Holy Spirit after personal ideas but allow the Holy Spirit to work and mold, having no confidence in self, minding the things of the Spirit, giving God all the glory. When self is emptied and false gods are cast out the Holy Spirit flows in and unfolds truth continually, and the Spirit that reveals also works within to produce righteousness and the fruits of righteousness, creating a new spiritual life with Christ dwelling within as a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

Reception was hindered at Corinth because believers were still carnal babes in Christ, slow to learn and unable to bear meat, wise in worldly knowledge but babes in the knowledge of Christ despite worldly knowledge and privilege. Jealousy, strife, prejudice, suspicion, evil-surmising, and accusation closed their hearts against the full working of the Holy Spirit as Comforter and Strengthener, so they could not comprehend and practice the deeper truths and mysteries of salvation they should have been far advanced in. This instruction belongs to the first, second, and third chapters of First Corinthians, which are of greatest importance to all who have entered the Lord's army, teaching that ministers by whom believers believed are one in object though their work may differ, for one plants and another waters but God gives the increase and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labor. Envy and division over ministers who emphasize another phase of truth or present the Word in a different way must be put away and not condemned, for God will not tolerate differences that separate brethren from one another and thus from God, and He will not send His Spirit until His people are all of one mind, loving as brethren, pitiful and courteous.

The deep things are to be studied only insofar as they are revealed in Scripture, for what God has revealed belongs to us though not every mystery is made known, and what remains unrevealed belongs to God. Finite human wisdom cannot explain every mystery, and what is not yet understood is not a reason to reject God's Word. The deep things call for an expanding mind and a longing for greater understanding, with effort to grasp them as far as mortals are able by drawing from God the source of wisdom and pursuing knowledge, which enlarges the desire to comprehend Him though His wisdom extends into infinity. Though subjects of wondrous depth, they can be presented in language easy to understand, and even difficult passages give comfort and instruction to those taught by God.

Results and Life Application

The Spirit's revealing humbles the learned, bringing pride to confession at the foot of the cross and transforming character in a way no human learning, oratory, philosophy, or reasoned proof can accomplish. That same Spirit who unfolds truth continually also works within to produce righteousness and spiritual fruit, enabling meek reception of the Word and giving all glory to God. When self is emptied and false gods cast out, the Spirit flows in, imparts the mind of Christ, removes confidence in self, and creates new life with Christ dwelling within as a well of water springing into everlasting life. To those wrestling for victory He comes as constant helper and regenerating agent, endowing supernatural power, instructing the ignorant in the mysteries of the kingdom, drawing attention to Calvary, opening Scripture and darkened minds, presenting the moral standard, convincing of sin, working godly sorrow unto repentance, inspiring saving faith, withdrawing affections from temporal perishable things toward the immortal inheritance, and recreating, refining, and sanctifying human agents as members of the royal family, children of the heavenly King.

The hidden wisdom unseen and unheard by the world is revealed to laborers to be learned at the foot of the cross and imprinted on the soul, enabling proclamation with power and authority. They are therefore to preach Christ crucified plainly, lift up Jesus and keep self out of sight, present eternal truths and human peril in neglecting eternal interests rather than pleasing ears, and depend on the power of God and teaching of the Holy Ghost rather than excellency of speech or wisdom of men. Preaching must stand in demonstration of the Spirit and of power so faith rests in God, for the Spirit alone imparts unity, strength, quickening energy for duty, and deep thorough conversion that turns souls from idols to the living God with abundant fruit. All work by human energy without the Spirit is valueless for soul-saving, deceives souls, puffs up self, keeps light under a bushel, and hinders the third angel's message, so ministers, conference presidents, and physicians must awake, become humble, meek and lowly, depart from old human channels, and minister in demonstrated power that the message may go as a lamp that burneth.

The chapter gives spiritual discernment that shows one's present condition unless discernment is wholly perverted, stopping the leading of others in false paths and calling for falling on the Rock to be broken while mercy lingers so Christ may rebuild into His own likeness. Teachers are therefore to seek depth rather than skim the surface or speak lightly of eternal matters, presenting God and Christ's suffering and resurrection as realities that lift the mind above earth. Those who study the Redeemer's sacrifice as the atonement for sin, the uplifted Son on Calvary around whom all truths from Genesis to Revelation cluster and in whose light they must be studied, grow in grace and knowledge. Ministers who feel their inefficiency and entire dependence on Christ, hiding self in Him and seeking no preeminence, preach not with enticing words but in demonstration of the Spirit so faith stands in God's power and Christ alone is seen as exalted and altogether lovely.

The sanctified mind unlocks the treasures of the Word, gathers its precious truths to share, and leads others to search the deep things, for knowledge so imparted is of the right quality and brings glory to God. The mind grows by drawing from God the source of wisdom, enlarging desire to comprehend Him even though His wisdom extends to infinity, and by practicing truth receives deeper mysteries to pass on. The things prepared for those who love Him are revealed through study comparing spiritual things with spiritual, giving the spiritual knowledge and experience needed to face the future, meet opposition, and be ready for transfer to immortal life, changed if alive and raised if dead. This teaching is to be thought over at home and applied with God's help to understand it, for many who think themselves prepared are not; applying it means separating from every hindrance, knowing God's will and walking in that pathway, becoming free and all light in the Lord, confessing Christ, coming out of darkness into marvelous light, and bearing testimony in the Lord's name.

Everyone preparing for translation should read the second chapter at home to move beyond being carnal babes into spiritual understanding, right relation to truth, close connection with God, and daily revelation of Christ to seekers. God's people are to comprehend the deep things and know more of redemption than now, with fuller knowledge to come as the latter rain, for they are losing connection by trusting and glorifying man; these themes deserve more than passing notice and are given to those who search the Word and pray with contrite hearts for wisdom, receiving greater length and breadth and height of knowledge that God alone can give, truths into which angels desire to look. True wisdom and knowledge come from God rather than human learning alone, and the truths of the first two chapters call for prayer for understanding and practical obedience rather than boasting. Education should therefore lead to knowing God and sharing that light through good works.

As the mind receives truth and cooperates with God, the Spirit gives further light and the sense that God is near. The searching Spirit is the promised Comforter given as infallible guide amid human weakness and the enemy's varied attacks, requiring much prayer and enlarged prevailing faith to overcome discouragement, backsets, cold formality, loss of courage to pray, and perplexity by rising above them lest the enemy gain advantage. In the home, Christ and heavenly agencies quicken sensibilities, renew activities, and teach the deep truths to parents whose daily life reveals living principles of the Word, cooperating with them to reach perfection, teach children righteousness, understand and overcome temptation, guard against school and worldly influences, turn from vanity and ambition to the immortal reward, and prepare for the soon coming. The chapter calls members to do the work made possible by taking hold of God's strength and making peace with Him, who gave His life that they might be sanctified through the truth.

Great light has been given on God's law as the standard of character now required and by which all will be judged in the last day, with guilt measured by opportunities, privileges, talents, and influence over others. The hidden wisdom ordained before the world unto glory is revealed not by eloquence but by demonstration of the Spirit, requiring illumination by the Spirit who searches all things and requiring sanctified humility and the science of salvation in Christ's righteousness in rightly dividing truth, lest truth be dishonored and the Spirit grieved. The promise is large with present possibilities and hope, to be grasped by faith for present benefit. The Spirit gives the deep things and enables discernment when judgment is not distorted by long practice of false principles, making the heart receptive to Scripture. Faith and prayer are necessary to behold the depth and significance of salvation, which the spiritually minded discern as a source of safety, life, and joy.