2:81 Corinthians 2:8

None of the rulers of this world understood the hidden wisdom God ordained before the world for the glory of believers, and had they understood it they would not have put the Lord of glory to death.AA 250.4–251.1+2 That hidden wisdom is Jesus Christ and Him crucified, the atoning sacrifice for sin that is the great central truth around which all other truth clusters and by which character is transformed.Ms 12, 1893, par. 19–21+4 The Lord of glory they crucified is Jesus Himself, equal with the Father as Prince of life and light, who took humanity, lived sinless, and bore human guilt as a ransom.Ms 143, 1906, par. 12+4 They failed to recognize Him through blindness of mind and lack of spiritual discernment, clinging to tradition, advantage and outward forms while Satan stirred their envy to cut off light from the world, yet their ignorance did not excuse their terrible sin.Ms 128, 1908, par. 15–19+4 Therefore true ministry must set aside human wisdom and eloquence to preach Christ crucified in the demonstration of the Spirit, and professed believers today must heed the warning lest erroneous conceptions of God lead them to reject Him as the rulers did.Lt 48, 1893, par. 50–52+4

None of the princes or rulers of this world knew God's hidden wisdom, which He ordained before the world for the glory of believers and for the glory of humanity.AA 250.4–251.1+4 Had they known that wisdom they would not have crucified the Lord of glory, who is Christ Jesus.AA 250.4–251.1+4 Their failure to recognize Him sets God's wisdom, which the Spirit reveals, over against the wisdom of worldly rulers.AA 250.4–251.1+2

That hidden wisdom is the wisdom of God in a mystery, spoken among those who are perfect, and it is wholly different from the wisdom of this world and of its princes, which comes to nothing and comes to nought.Lt 350, 1907, par. 20–21+3 The princes are the high and lifted up, and because they did not know that wisdom they crucified the Lord of glory, sustaining by that ignorance great loss even in this life and losing the future eternal life in the kingdom of God.Lt 350, 1907, par. 20–21+1 It belongs to the determination to know only Jesus Christ and Him crucified, preached not with excellency of speech or enticing words of man's wisdom but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that faith stands in the power of God and not in the wisdom of men.Lt 350, 1907, par. 20–21+2 This wisdom is beyond what eye has seen or ear has heard or has entered the heart of man in the things God has prepared for those who love Him, but it is revealed by the Spirit who searches all things, even the deep things of God.Ms 111, 1909, par. 1–3+2 True ministry therefore does not depend on human wisdom but requires diligent study, humility, and a living grasp of Christ crucified as the power of God and the wisdom of God, with spiritual things spiritually discerned.Ms 111, 1909, par. 1–3+1 Even the very great teacher Paul was with his hearers in weakness and in fear and in much trembling, feeling his education of little account without the Spirit of God working with him, so all need the same experience, to be afraid of self, to sit at the feet of Jesus and listen to His words of instruction, to empty the soul-temple of foolishness, pride and folly and invite Jesus to take possession of heart and soul and character, to have no pride of spirit, to appreciate more fully how much more there is to be learned, and to keep the life-and-death question of what to do to inherit eternal life constantly before them.Ms 84, 1901, par. 11–12

Their not knowing was ignorance and blindness of mind and lack of discernment in the things of the Spirit, failing to apply the prophecies of Christ where they belong.Ms 128, 1908, par. 15–19 In that human opposition counterworking the Spirit of God they rejected the crucified Christ Jesus.Ms 128, 1908, par. 15–19

What eye has not seen nor ear heard nor entered the heart of man, God has revealed by His Spirit, for the Spirit searches all things, yea the deep things of God.Ms 111, 1909, par. 1–3+2 This hidden wisdom is Jesus Christ and Him crucified, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God, and the rulers' lack of knowledge is proved by their crucifying the Lord of glory.Ms 111, 1909, par. 1–3+1 The natural man cannot receive these things because they are spiritually discerned, but those who have received the Spirit of God speak them not in man's wisdom but as the Holy Ghost teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual, and have the mind of Christ.Ms 111, 1909, par. 1–3+1 That requires study of the Word, and spiritual knowledge and spiritual experience are needed to face the future, meet opposition, and be transferred to immortal life, changed if alive and raised if in the grave.Ms 111, 1909, par. 1–3 The mystery is beyond human pride and unaided learning: divine wisdom is revealed by the Spirit of God, who works upon minds and hearts and inspires faith in God.Ms 114, 1898, par. 27–29 Every true laborer must learn this lesson at the foot of the cross and preach Christ crucified plainly to bring people to the cross, lifting up Jesus and keeping self out of sight, not preaching to please ears and not depending on excellency of speech or human wisdom, lest the work stand in the wisdom of men and produce no harvest, but stand in the power of God and bring sheaves to Jesus Christ.Ms 29, 1893, par. 6–7

The hidden wisdom is Jesus Christ and Him crucified, centered in the mighty power of the cross of Calvary by which what was lost is brought back to humanity.Ms 12, 1893, par. 19–21+2 The rulers of this world did not recognize His divine glory, and human wisdom cannot grasp this wisdom, for it is Christ crucified, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.Ms 12, 1893, par. 19–21+2 Only God can thereby transform character, and that transformation does not come by oratory, philosophy, human learning, pomp, pride, excellency of speech, or enticing words of man's wisdom.Ms 12, 1893, par. 19–21+1 What eye has not seen nor ear heard nor heart known, God has revealed by His Spirit, who searches all things even the deep things of God, to those who have received the Spirit of God and have the mind of Christ, while the natural man still cannot know it because it is spiritually discerned.Ms 29, 1893, par. 6–7 Every true laborer must learn this lesson at the foot of the cross and preach Christ crucified plainly to bring people and sheaves to Him, lifting up Jesus and keeping self out of sight, so that faith stands in the power of God and not in the wisdom of men, lest the work produce no harvest.Ms 12, 1893, par. 19–21+1

The hidden wisdom ordained before the world unto human glory is Christ as Sacrifice and Priest in His human and divine nature.Ms 115, 1897, par. 28+1 It can never be explained to human senses but is seen only by faith as God reveals Him.Ms 115, 1897, par. 28 The One who was obedient unto death is now taken into eternal union as both God and man, and the Father declares Him a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.Ms 115, 1897, par. 28

That same hidden wisdom is the gospel preached in Eden and Christ's priesthood after the order of Melchizedek that commenced as soon as man sinned.Ms 43b, 1891, par. 5 When Adam and Eve fell under the dominion of death, Satan thought God had given up His hold on man.Ms 43b, 1891, par. 5 But the Star of Hope lighted the dark future with the promise that the seed of the woman would bruise the serpent's head while the serpent would bruise His heel, so fallen men were kept as prisoners of hope and not left to become extinguished, while the other worlds God created watched the sad apostasy with intense interest.Ms 43b, 1891, par. 5

The hidden wisdom is the sacrifice of Christ as an atonement for sin, the great central truth around which all other truths cluster.Ms 70, 1901, par. 9–13+1 It is not the wisdom of this world nor of its princes that come to nothing, and it is to be studied from Genesis to Revelation in the light streaming from the cross of Calvary, with the Son of God uplifted as the monument of mercy and regeneration, salvation and redemption and the theme of every discourse, preached not with enticing words of man's wisdom but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power.Ms 70, 1901, par. 9–13+1 Its meaning is known when ministers feel their inefficiency and entire dependence upon Christ and hide self in Him, revealing Christ as chiefest among ten thousand and altogether lovely, glorying in the cross by which the world is crucified to the believer.Ms 70, 1901, par. 9–13+1 Those who study the Redeemer's sacrifice grow in grace and knowledge, love God supremely and neighbor as self, and have Christ formed within, the hope of glory, for a saving, restoring influence.Ms 70, 1901, par. 9–13+1

True wisdom and power are found in Christ crucified, who of God is made unto believers wisdom and righteousness and sanctification and redemption.Lt 56, 1893, par. 22–25 God has made foolish the wisdom of this world and has chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise, and the weak and base and despised things to confound the mighty and to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence.Lt 56, 1893, par. 22–25 For that reason not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble are called, and to men who have given their lives to worldly pursuits and cultivated sharp business traits the preaching of the cross is foolishness because they are too worldly-wise.Lt 56, 1893, par. 22–25 God's wisdom is not gained through human learning or status, and the truths of 1 Corinthians 1-2, including that none of the princes knew this wisdom, must be studied with much prayer and practiced to be understood.SPBC 212.3+1

The Lord of glory is Jesus, whose earthly life joined heaven and earth to take up the cause of a world lost in sin, and through that connection every blessing comes to humanity.COS 5.1+1 He is supreme over all, who gave Himself and suffered loss so that eternal life could be offered.COS 5.1+1 He is Christ the Prince of life, who manifested wonderful love to save fallen humanity by making a great sacrifice to furnish a home for those of the sinful and rebellious race who will turn to Him, yet few realize, accept and appreciate this heavenly gift.ST Oct 28, 1889+1

Knowing Him requires personal experience, with the Spirit opening the understanding to see Him as the Lord of glory whom the rulers of this world did not know.Ms 143, 1906, par. 12+1 Those who crucified Him did not recognize Him as the Prince of light, the Prince of life and Lord of glory; had they known who He was and His true identity and divinity, they would not have betrayed, condemned and crucified Him.Ms 2, 1890, par. 17–18+3 He was the Lord of glory equal with the Father, who humbled Himself by taking humanity and lived sinless, yet the rulers treated His claims with contempt, rejected and condemned Him, and the very nation He had delivered from slavery judged and abused Him without recognizing the One they were crucifying.Ms 29, 1899, par. 5+1 Their ignorance did not excuse them, for they had evidence of God's work and of His wisdom in Christ but let false reasoning, distorted words and positions, and misunderstanding lead them to reject it, and rejecting God's revealed power despite its evidence brings people into danger.Ms 2, 1890, par. 17–18+1

His death as the Lord of glory was a ransom for the human race, substitutionary in bearing the guilt of Adam's descendants and being counted a transgressor to redeem them from the condemnation of the law.DA 752.2–753.1+1 He bore humanity's iniquity as its substitute and surety, and His agony and anguish came from bearing sin with its weight and malignity and experiencing the Father's displeasure against it and the withdrawal of the Father's presence, not chiefly from physical pain or fear of death.DA 752.2–753.1+1 It is sin that scourged and crucified the Lord of life and glory, so every sin must be renounced as hateful.ST Mar 20, 1893 Beholding Jesus lifted up on the cross reveals humanity's sinfulness and the ingratitude and rebellion of a life that has forsaken its best friend and abused heaven's gifts, grounding the call to continual surrender and obedience in a progressive life of doing Christ's works.ST Mar 20, 1893

The powers of earth, inspired by Satan, with Jews and Greeks confederated together against the world's Redeemer, did to Him as they chose and in betraying, condemning and crucifying the Lord of glory fulfilled prophetic utterances.Ms 117, 1894, par. 14 All prophetic testimony about the coming Messiah clustered about the cross, with one prophet foretelling one part of His life and ministry and another another part, all pointing to this death.Ms 117, 1894, par. 14 The knowledge hidden from the wise and prudent was revealed to the disciples who beheld divinity in His humanity.Ms 117, 1894, par. 14 He who was sold by Judas for thirty pieces of silver is this same Lord of glory, and that betrayal stands as an example of the grave consequences of a single wrong act.ED 150.2–4

The rulers crucified Jesus because they did not recognize Him as the Lord of glory, the Lord of life and the Saviour, and had they known they would not have crucified Him.SG1 100.1+4 Their sinful blindness kept them from seeing His divine identity, power, mercy, love and glory beneath His humble appearance, even though His mercy and divine power were revealed in works no human could do.SG1 100.1+2 That blindness was bigotry and blind unbelief that kept them from recognizing His loving, compassionate heart and character and from accepting the prophetic testimony that He was the Messiah, the Son of David.ST Jan 10, 1878+1 Envy of His mighty works led them to seek His life, and one of His own followers was used to betray Him into their hands, and after He rose they continued in wrongdoing by paying the Roman guard to spread a false account while those who rose with Him and the witnesses who saw Him testified to His resurrection.SG1 100.1+1

They shut their eyes, ears and understanding to the truth because prophetic light exposed what threatened their own advantage.Ms 16, 1887, par. 10–12 Falsehood and human traditions so clouded their understanding that they no longer recognized the light they had received, and they chose to preserve their customs rather than accept the heavenly Teacher.TSSW 37.3–38.1 Their theoretical knowledge and outward religious observance did not make them righteous, yet their supposed orthodoxy led them to crucify the Lord of glory.DA 309.2–3 They did not know the Scriptures or the power of God, and that ignorance led them into error and ruin.FE 128.3+1 Their false understanding of His character, shaped by the errors and traditions of their time, led them to reject and crucify Him.5T 709.1–710.1

That killing of the Lord of glory was Satan's attempt, carried out through disobedient men, to extinguish the light God sent into the world.STMW10 35.3–36.1 In one desperate act through disobedient men to counterwork God, Jews and Greeks confederated to cut off every ray of light shining amid moral darkness, to cut off communication coming from the throne of God, and to defy the Father who sent His Son, saying like the wicked husbandmen that the heir should be killed and the inheritance seized.STMW10 35.3–36.1+1 Satan interposed himself between Christ and a lost world to shut out the divine communication of God's love and frustrate God's plans, as if to crush out all hope from the heart of the Omnipotent, setting in operation a course that caused men to drop humanity out of their hearts so the satanic could have full possession of them.Ms 40a, 1890, par. 63–64 With wicked hands men then crucified the Lord of glory through the combined forces of earth and hell seeking to destroy the divine One, yet the attempt failed because Christ is the Living Vine Stock planted beyond their reach, with root on the other side of the wall never to be destroyed while His branches hang over into the world so dry, sapless human branches can be grafted into Him and bear rich clusters of fruit.Ms 40a, 1890, par. 63–64 Christ came in human form to help humanity share in the divine nature and escape corruption, His selfless life taught self-denial and sacrifice, and His death was the result of the wicked leaders' attempt to seize the inheritance.STMW10 35.3–36.1

By causing the crucifixion Satan acted out and exposed his lawless principles, for he had claimed that God's law could be taken away and replaced with a better one, and by crucifying Christ he showed what those principles lead to.Ms 5, 1889, par. 11–13 God allowed him this opportunity so he could not blame his disaffection on Christ and the Father, and the universe could see the result.Ms 5, 1889, par. 11–13 That ignorance did not excuse those who crucified Christ as the Prince of light, because they had evidence of God's work but let false reasoning, distorted words and positions, and misunderstanding lead them to reject it, and rejecting God's revealed power despite its evidence brings people into danger.Ms 2, 1890, par. 17–18 His rejection and crucifixion were terrible sins, and the Holy Spirit gave the apostles' words power to convict people of guilt in them.AA 45.1 The charge of rejecting and crucifying Christ as the Lord of glory whom the rulers did not know was brought home with power by the Holy Spirit to the hearers at Pentecost, leading them to ask what they should do.3SP 273.3

Rejecting heaven-sent light puts people in peril and brings condemnation, as when the Jews rejected and crucified the Lord of life and glory.Ms 18, 1888, par. 34 Those who reject Christ and choose disloyalty are charged with crucifying Him just as the rulers who did not know Him crucified Him, for the choice between Christ and Barabbas represents the choice every person makes to stand with Christ or under Satan's banner.RH Jan 30, 1900 When Jesus as the Prince of Life stood before the people beside Barabbas, the people did not know Him as the Lord of glory and refused to receive Him, and though the contrast between light and darkness, sin and righteousness, truth and falsehood could be seen by all, they chose Barabbas, a robber and murderer, in His stead, showing they preferred the society of a murderer to that of the One who was sinless, full of goodness, mercy and truth.RH Jan 23, 1900 Their choice was made with satanic madness because Satan was working through the religious element, and bigotry and prejudice prevailed, leading them to cry for Christ to be crucified.RH Jan 23, 1900 The judgment-hall record is a standard by which people are measured, and the world's failure to recognize its time of visitation leaves it unprepared for that judgment.RH Jan 30, 1900

True ministry does not rest on excellence of speech or persuasive words of human wisdom, but on the resolve to know nothing except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.Lt 48, 1893, par. 50–52+2 Speech and preaching are to be in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that faith stands not in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.Lt 48, 1893, par. 50–52+2 That hidden wisdom is wholly different from the wisdom of this world and of its princes that come to nothing, for none of those princes knew it, and had they known it they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.Lt 48, 1893, par. 50–52+2 It is spoken among those who are perfect and is spiritually discerned, requiring diligent study, humility, and a living grasp of Christ crucified as the power of God and the wisdom of God.Ms 111, 1909, par. 1–3+1

Its meaning is known when ministers feel their inefficiency and entire dependence on Christ, hide self in Him, and keep self out of sight while lifting up Jesus.Ms 70, 1901, par. 9–13+2 Christ is then revealed as chiefest among ten thousand and altogether lovely, preached plainly as crucified to bring people and sheaves to Him.Ms 70, 1901, par. 9–13+2 That preaching uplifts the Son of God as the monument of mercy, regeneration, salvation and redemption, holding the sacrifice of Christ as an atonement for sin to be the great central truth around which all other truths cluster.Ms 70, 1901, par. 9–13+1 Every truth from Genesis to Revelation is to be studied in the light streaming from the cross of Calvary in connection with the atonement, making the cross and Christ crucified the theme of every discourse.Ms 70, 1901, par. 9–13+1 Otherwise the work stands in human wisdom and produces no harvest, but when it stands in the power of God those who study the Redeemer's sacrifice grow in grace and knowledge, love God supremely and neighbor as self, and have Christ formed within as the hope of glory.Ms 70, 1901, par. 9–13+1

Spiritual knowledge and experience to face the future, meet opposition, and be fitted for immortal life require study of the Word, for the natural man cannot receive what eye has not seen nor ear heard nor heart conceived, since it is revealed by the Spirit who searches all things, even the deep things of God.Ms 111, 1909, par. 1–3+2 Even the very great teacher Paul was with his hearers in weakness and fear and much trembling, counting his education of little account without the Spirit of God working with him.Ms 84, 1901, par. 11–12 All need the same experience, to be afraid of self, to sit at the feet of Jesus and listen to His instruction, to empty the soul-temple of foolishness, pride and folly, and to invite Jesus to take possession of heart and soul and character.Ms 84, 1901, par. 11–12 They are to have no pride of spirit, to appreciate more fully how much more there is to be learned, and to keep the life-and-death question of what to do to inherit eternal life constantly before them.Ms 111, 1909, par. 1–3+1 Ministers and conference presidents and physicians must have a decided change, wake up and work earnestly in unity of the Spirit to harmonize, departing from old channels and regular lines.Ms 142, 1909, par. 9–12 All other work by human agencies and human energy without the Holy Spirit is of no value in the conversion of souls, so humble, meek, lowly labor must plant seed in good ground to bring forth abundant fruit, and then the third angel's message will go as a lamp that burns while men turn from idols to God and turn their idols into means for soul-saving.Ms 142, 1909, par. 9–12

When men honor men instead of paying homage to God, ignorance of that mystery leads them to oppose God's work, act selfishly toward His messenger, follow wrong methods, and hold back books containing light for the last days and the means to advance His cause.Lt 59, 1901, par. 12–14 Yet God sends His light in bright, clear rays to gain the attention of the thoughtless, melt hardened hearts, subdue the proud, and give hope to the fearful.Lt 59, 1901, par. 12–14 Worldly wisdom, influence and favor cannot be relied on to support God's work, for the wisdom of the world is foolishness with God and those seeking worldly favor separate themselves from Him.Ms 165, 1899, par. 38–39

The second and third chapters of 1 Corinthians must be thought over at home and put into practice in life, and the first, second, and third chapters setting forth the contrast between God's wisdom and the wisdom of the world are to be read with much prayer.SPBC 212.3+2 Applying those chapters shows that many who think they are prepared for the Lord's coming are not prepared, while God helps those who make that application to understand the chapters, to separate from all hindrances, to know the will of God and walk in that pathway, to be free, to be all light in the Lord, to confess Christ, and to come out of darkness into His marvelous light.Ms 111, 1909, par. 28–30 When chapter 2 is read and studied carefully with discernment that is not wholly perverted, it gives a glimpse of a person's present condition and causes him to cease leading other souls in false paths.Lt 51a, 1895, par. 27

The wisdom the princes of this world did not know is not gained through human learning or status, and men who have given their lives to worldly pursuits and cultivated sharp business traits of character are too worldly-wise, so that to them the preaching of the cross is foolishness.SPBC 212.3+1 Not many wise after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble are called, because God has made foolish the wisdom of this world and has chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise and the weak and base and despised things to confound the mighty and to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence.Lt 56, 1893, par. 22–25 True wisdom and power are found in Christ crucified, who of God is made unto believers wisdom and righteousness and sanctification and redemption.Lt 56, 1893, par. 22–25

The same failure of the rulers who crucified Christ because they did not recognize Him as the Lord of glory can occur among people who profess faith today.3T 200.1+1 If Christ came exposing their selfishness, pride, love of worldly approval, and neglect of duty, they might reject His rebuke and rely instead on their claimed good works and privileges, failing to recognize Him as the rulers did.3T 200.1+1

Those who crucified Him were the wicked husbandmen who occupied God's vineyard year after year without returning fruit to God, shamefully treated His messengers, selfishly used the entrusted goods for themselves, and finally crucified His beloved Son.Ms 23, 1900, par. 13–14 Because the Jewish church separated itself from God and abused its blessings and privileges in crucifying the Lord of glory, these were transferred from them to the Gentiles.Ms 23, 1900, par. 13–14 This stands as a warning to the church today not to follow the same steps by rejecting truth and continuing warfare against God, lest the sacred trust committed to them be taken away and given to others.Ms 23, 1900, par. 13–14

The Jews crucified the Lord of glory because they did not know Him, being misled by the errors and traditions of their time to cherish a false conception of Christ.ST May 7, 1902 The same thing is happening now, when erroneous popular theology obscures Bible truth and leads multitudes to cherish a false conception of God, making skeptics and infidels.ST May 7, 1902 Those who have the Spirit of Christ must carry forward the work He came to do by revealing the character of God to the world, and God will save His people from sinking into the formal, Christless state into which the Jewish nation sank.ST May 7, 1902