1 Corinthians

The first epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Corinthians, chapter 2, New English Translation and King James Version

Chapter 2 New English Translation

1 When I came to you, brothers and sisters, I did not come with superior eloquence or wisdom as I proclaimed the testimony of God. 2 For I decided to be concerned about nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and him crucified. 3 And I was with you in weakness and in fear and with much trembling. 4 My conversation and my preaching were not with persuasive words of wisdom, but with a demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5 so that your faith would not be based on human wisdom but on the power of God.

Wisdom from God

6 Now we do speak wisdom among the mature, but not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are perishing. 7 Instead we speak the wisdom of God, hidden in a mystery, that God determined before the ages for our glory. 8 None of the rulers of this age understood it. If they had known it, they would not have crucified the LORD of glory. 9 But just as it is written, "Things that no eye has seen, or ear heard, or mind imagined, are the things God has prepared for those who love him." 10 God has revealed these to us by the Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. 11 For who among men knows the things of a man except the man's spirit within him? So too, no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things that are freely given to us by God. 13 And we speak about these things, not with words taught us by human wisdom, but with those taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual things to spiritual people. 14 The unbeliever does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him. And he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. 15 The one who is spiritual discerns all things, yet he himself is understood by no one. 16 For who has known the mind of the LORD, so as to advise him? But we have the mind of Christ.

King James Version

   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.
   2 For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.
   3 And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.
   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:
   5 That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.
   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:
   7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:
   8 Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
   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.
   10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
   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.
   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.
   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.
   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.
   15 But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.
   16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.