Paul's Approach To Ministry In Corinth
1 And when I came to you, brothers, it was not with eloquent words or [superior] wisdom that I proclaimed to you the testimony [or, mystery] about God.
1 And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God.
1 And when I came to you, brethren, I (A)did not come with superiority of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you (B)the (a)testimony of God.
1 When I came to you, brothers, announcing the testimony(a) of God to you, I did not come with brilliance(A) of speech(B) or wisdom.
1 When I came to you, brothers, I didn't come and tell you about God's secret with rhetorical language or wisdom.
2 For I have decided not to know anything [while] among you, except Jesus Christ and His being crucified.
2 For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.
2 For I didn’t think it was a good idea to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.(C)
2 For while I was with you I resolved to know nothing except Jesus the Messiah, and him crucified.
3 And I was weak, apprehensive and fearful when I was [there] with you. [Note: This probably refers to Paul's sense of inadequacy in view of the task before him].
3 And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.
3 It was in weakness, fear, and great trembling that I came to you.
4 And I did not use persuasive words of [human] wisdom in my message and preaching, but they were [accompanied by] a demonstration of the Holy Spirit and power [from God]. [Note: This "demonstration" could have included the evidence of miraculous spiritual gifts which Paul utilized while there in Corinth. See 14:18].
4 And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:
4 and my (b)message and my preaching were (F)not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of (G)the Spirit and of power,
4 My speech(G) and my proclamation were not with persuasive(H) words of wisdom(b) but with a powerful demonstration by the Spirit,
4 My message and my preaching were not accompanied by clever, wise words, but by a display of the Spirit's power,
The Wisdom Revealed By The Spirit
6 However, we speak [divine] wisdom among people who are [spiritually] mature, yet it is not a wisdom of this current age, nor of [its] current rulers, who are coming to nothing.
6 Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought:
6 Yet we do speak wisdom among those who are (I)mature; a wisdom, however, not of (J)this age nor of the rulers of (K)this age, who are (L)passing away;
6 However, we do speak a wisdom among the mature,(J) but not a wisdom of this age, or of the rulers(K) of this age, who are coming to nothing.(L)
6 However, when we are among mature people, we do speak a message of wisdom, but not the wisdom of this world or of the rulers of this world, who are passing off the scene.
7 But we [apostles] speak God's secret wisdom, which has been hidden [through the ages], which God predetermined for our honor before time began.
7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:
7 but we speak God’s wisdom in a (M)mystery, the hidden wisdom which God (N)predestined before the (O)ages to our glory;
7 On the contrary, we speak God’s hidden wisdom in a mystery, a wisdom God predestined(M) before the ages for our glory.(N)
7 Instead, we speak about God's wisdom in a hidden secret, which God destined before the world began for our glory.
8 None of the rulers of this age knew about this [divine] wisdom, for if they had [known it], they would not have crucified the glorious Lord [i.e., Jesus].
8 Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
8 the wisdom (P)which none of the rulers of (Q)this age has understood; for if they had understood it they would not have crucified (R)the Lord of glory;
8 None of the rulers of this age knew this wisdom, for if they had known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.(O)
8 None of the rulers of this world understood it, because if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
9 But as it is written [Isa. 64:4], "The things which no eye saw or ear heard, and which did not [even] enter the mind of men, is what God has prepared for those who love Him."
9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
9 but just as it is written,“(S)Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard,And which have not entered the heart of man,All that God has prepared for those who love Him.”
9 But as it is written:What eye did not see and ear did not hear,and what never entered the human mind—God prepared this for those who love Him.(P)(c)
9 But as it is written, "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined the things that God has prepared for those who love him."
10 But God has revealed [to us] these things [i.e., His divine wisdom. See verses 7-8] through the Holy Spirit. For the Holy Spirit searches everything, even the deep things of God.
10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
10 (d)(T)For to us God revealed them (U)through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the (V)depths of God.
10 Now God has revealed these things to us by the Spirit, for the Spirit searches everything,(Q) even the depths of God.(R)
10 But God has revealed those things to us by his Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the deep things of God.
11 For what person knows the thoughts of a man except that man's [own] spirit which is in him? In the same way, no one knows the thoughts of God except God's Holy Spirit.
11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.
11 For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the (W)spirit of the man which is in him? Even so the thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God.
11 For who among men knows the thoughts(d) of a man except the spirit(S) of the man that is in him? In the same way, no one knows(T) the thoughts(e) of God except the Spirit of God.
11 Is there anyone who can understand his own thoughts except his own inner spirit? In the same way, no one can know the thoughts of God except God's Spirit.
12 But we [apostles] did not receive the spirit of the world [i.e., human wisdom. See verse 6], but the Holy Spirit from God, so that we could understand what was freely given to us from God [i.e., the gift of inspiration. See verses 9-10].
12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
12 Now we (X)have received, not the spirit of (Y)the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God,
12 Now we have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who comes from God, so that we may understand what has been freely given to us by God.
12 Now, we have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who comes from God, so that we can understand the things that were freely given to us by God.
13 These also are the things we [apostles] speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but [in words] taught by the Holy Spirit. We use [or, combine] Spirit-taught words to express [or, with] Spirit-given truth.
13 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.
13 which things we also speak, (Z)not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, (e)combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words.
13 We also speak these things, not in words(U) taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual things to spiritual people.(f)
13 We don't speak about these things with words taught us by human wisdom, but with words taught by the Spirit, as we explain spiritual things to spiritual people.
14 Now the natural person [Note: Since this person is contrasted with the spiritual person of verse 15, it is taken here to mean the person without the Holy Spirit] does not receive the things [i.e., truths] revealed by the Holy Spirit of God, because they are [considered] foolishness to him. And he cannot understand them because they must be discerned by using spiritual judgment [i.e., judgment aided by the Holy Spirit].
14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
14 But (f)a (AA)natural man (AB)does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are (AC)foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually (g)appraised.
14 But the unbeliever(g) does not welcome what comes from God’s Spirit, because it is foolishness to him; he is not able to understand it since it is evaluated(h) spiritually.
14 A person who isn't spiritual doesn't accept the things of God's Spirit, for they are nonsense to him. He can't understand them because they are spiritually evaluated.
15 But the spiritual person [i.e., one who has the Holy Spirit] is able to discern all things [i.e., has the ability to make right judgments about things], and he himself [i.e., his conduct] cannot be [critically] discerned by any [unbelieving] man.
15 But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.
15 The spiritual person, however, can evaluate(i) everything, yet he himself cannot be evaluated(j) by anyone.
15 The spiritual person evaluates everything but is subject to no one else's evaluation.
16 [Isa. 40:13 says], "For who knows [what is in] the Lord's mind? And who is capable of instructing Him? But we have the mind of Christ. [Note: The "we" may refer to the apostles, who had the gift of inspiration (See verse 12), or to all Christians who have spiritual discernment].
16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.
16 For (AE)who has known the mind of the Lord, that he will instruct Him? But (AF)we have the mind of Christ.
16 Forwho has known the Lord’s mind,that he may instruct Him?(V)(k)But we have the mind of Christ.(W)
16 For "Who has known the mind of the Lord so that he can advise him?" However, we have the mind of the Messiah.