1 Corinthians 2:10-16

The goal of successful ministry is that those to whom we minister will have a faith based in the power of God, 2:1-5.  The method of successful ministry is to preach the wisdom of God and not the wisdom of men, 2:6-9.  But remember that the message seems like foolishness to the natural man (man the way he is born, with a sinful nature).  The natural man needs help to understand God’s wisdom.  Thus, the key to successful ministry is the witness of the Spirit of God, 2:10-16.

There are two ways this passage is interpreted.  Some refer “we” to Paul and the other Apostles.  This view is saying that the mystery that was ordained before the ages that the rulers of the world did not understand (2:7-9) has now been revealed to the Apostles by the Holy Spirit (2:10-11).  By this Spirit the Apostles know (2:12-13) and thus, they are able to speak God’s truth (2:14-16).  This interpretation fits the passage as well as Biblical teaching concerning the Spirit’s ministry of inspiration (e.g. 2 Tim. 3:16-17; John 16:12-15).

But even those who hold this view usually recognize the necessity of the Spirit’s ministry for anyone to discern spiritual truth.  Thus the second view is that “we” refers to Paul and the Corinthian believers as well as all who would read this letter as Scripture.  This is how we understand the passage.

·        REVELATION, v10-11.  This speaks of God’s revealing truth to the Prophets and Apostles.  The Bible, the complete record of God’s word to mankind, is the result of this revelation (Heb. 1:1-4; Jude 3).

·        INDWELLING, v12-13.  All believers have received the Holy Spirit (John 14:17; Rom. 8:9).  By His ministry we can know the things that have been freely given to us by God.  Our ministry then becomes speaking, not the wisdom of the world, but the things that the Spirit teaches.  “Comparing spiritual things with spiritual” deals with the ability to interpret Scripture.  Some would apply this to the comparison of Old and New Testaments.  But even more, all of Scripture can be understood when one realizes by the Spirit that the testimony of Christ is the constant underlying theme.  The bottom line: the best interpreter of the Bible is the Bible itself.

·        ILLUMINATION, v14.  To be spiritually discerned means the Spirit turns the light on for the man in whom the Spirit dwells.  And thus …

·        INTERPRETATION, v15-16.  The one who has the Spirit can understand the things of God.  He has the mind of Christ.  And be not foolish about this.  There is a need for teachers in the Church (Eph. 4:11-16), for hard work in study (2 Tim. 2:15; Prov. 2:4-5), and for prayer (Psalm 119:18).  But may I bear testimony to the great blessing, in the first church that I pastored, fresh from seminary and quite full of myself, to find many uneducated people who had a solid grasp of Scripture and taught me on numerous occasions.

The key to successful ministry is the Spirit’s work.  Let us not waste our time nor that of our flocks with the drivel of this world.  People need what the Spirit will use.  Let us preach the word!