1 Corinthians 2 · Verse 6

1 Corinthians 2:6

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:
1 Corinthians 2:6, King James Version

1 Corinthians 2:6 in other translations

BSBAmong the mature, however, we speak a message of wisdom—but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing.
WEBWe speak wisdom, however, among those who are full grown, yet a wisdom not of this world nor of the rulers of this world who are coming to nothing.
ASVWe speak wisdom, however, among them that are fullgrown: yet a wisdom not of this world, nor of the rulers of this world, who are coming to nought:
YLTAnd wisdom we speak among the perfect, and wisdom not of this age, nor of the rulers of this age--of those becoming useless,
DARBYBut we speak wisdom among the perfect; but wisdom not of this world, nor of the rulers of this world, who come to nought.
BBEBut still we have wisdom for those who are complete in knowledge, though not the wisdom of this world, and not of the rulers of this world, who are coming to nothing:
WebsterHowever, 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 naught:

What does 1 Corinthians 2:6 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 1 Corinthians 2:6-7
6-7. Yet the Gospel preaching, so far from being at variance with true "wisdom," is a wisdom infinitely higher than that of the wise of the world. we speak--resuming "we" (preachers, I, Apollos, &c.) from "we preach" (1Co 1:28), only that here, "we speak" refers to something less public (compare 1Co 2:7, 13, "mystery ... hidden") than "we preach," which is public. For "wisdom" here denotes not the whole of Christian doctrine, but its sublimer and deeper principles. perfect--Those matured in Christian experience and knowledge alone can understand the true superiority of the Christian wisdom which Paul preached. Distinguished not only from worldly and natural men, but also from babes, who though "in Christ" retain much that is "carnal" (1Co 3:1, 2), and cannot therefore understand the deeper truths of Christianity (1Co 14:20; Php 3:15; He 5:14). Paul does not mean by the "mystery" or "hidden wisdom" (1Co 2:7) some hidden tradition distinct from the Gospel (like the Church of Rome's disciplina arcani and doctrine of reserve), but the unfolding of the treasures of knowledge, once hidden in God's counsels, but now announced to all, which would be intelligently comprehended in proportion as the hearer's inner life became perfectly transformed into the image of Christ. Compare instances of such "mysteries," that is, deeper Christian truths, not preached at Paul's first coming to Corinth, when he confined himself to the fundamental elements (1Co 2:2), but now spoken to the "perfect" (1Co 15:51; Ro 11:25; Ep 3:5, 6). "Perfect" is used not of absolute perfection, but relatively to "babes," or those less ripe in Christian growth (compare Php 3:12, 15, with 1Jo 2:12-14). "God" (1Co 2:7) is opposed to the world, the apostles to "the princes [great and learned men] of this world" (1Co 2:8; compare 1Co 1:20) [Bengel]. come to naught--nothingness (1Co 1:28). They are transient, not immortal. Therefore, their wisdom is not real [Bengel]. Rather, translate with Alford, "Which are being brought to naught," namely, by God's choosing the "things which are not (the weak and despised things of the Gospel), to bring to naught (the same verb as here) things that are" (1Co 1:28).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 6. Howbeit. But, δε. This commences the second head or argument in this chapter, in which Paul shows that if human wisdom is wanting in his preaching, it is not devoid of true, and solid, and even Divine wisdom.--Bloomfield.

We speak wisdom. We do not admit that we utter foolishness. We have spoken of the foolishness of preaching, 1Cor 1:21; and of the estimate in which it was held by the world, 1Cor 1:22-28; and of our own manner among you as not laying claim to human learning or eloquence; but we do not design to admit that we have been really speaking folly. We have been uttering that which is truly wise, but which is seen and understood to be such only by those who are had explained and defended--the plan of salvation by the cross of Christ.

Among them that are perfect. εντοιςτελειοις. This word "perfect" is here evidently applied to Christians, as it is in Php 3:15: "Let us, therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded." And it is clearly used to denote those who were advanced in Christian knowledge; who were qualified to understand the subject; who had made progress in the knowledge of the mysteries of the gospel; and who thus saw its excellence. It does not mean here that they were sinless, for the argument of the apostle does not bear on that inquiry; but that they were qualified to understand the gospel, in contradistinction from the gross, the sensual, and the carnally-minded, who rejected it as foolishness. There is, perhaps, here an allusion to the heathen mysteries, where those who had been fully initiated were said to be perfect--fully instructed in those rites and doctrines. And if so, then this passage means, that those only who have been fully instructed in the knowledge of the Christian religion will be qualified to see its beauty and its wisdom. The gross and sensual do not see it, and those only who are enlightened by the Holy Spirit are qualified to appreciate its beauty and its excellency.

Not the wisdom of this world. Not that which this world has originated or loved.

Nor of the princes of this world. Perhaps intending chiefly here the rulers of the Jews. See 1Cor 2:8. They neither devised it, nor loved it, nor saw its wisdom, 1Cor 2:8. That come to nought. That is, whose plans fail; whose wisdom vanishes; and who themselves, with all their pomp and splendour, come to nothing in the grave. Comp. Isa 14. All the plans of human wisdom shall fail; and this which is originated by God only shall stand.

(*) "Howbeit" "However" (c) "among them" Php 3:15 (*) "that" "who" (a) "nought" Ps 33:10

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 6 We speak wisdom among them that are perfect - By the εν τοις τελειοις, among those that are perfect, we are to understand Christians of the highest knowledge and attainments- those who were fully instructed in the knowledge of God through Christ Jesus. Nothing, in the judgment of St. Paul, deserved the name of wisdom but this. And though he apologizes for his not coming to them with excellency of speech or wisdom, yet he means what was reputed wisdom among the Greeks, and which, in the sight of God, was mere folly when compared with that wisdom that came from above. Dr. Lightfoot thinks that the apostle mentions a fourfold wisdom. 1. Heathen wisdom, or that of the Gentile philosophers, 1Cor 1:22, which was termed by the Jews חכמה יונית chokmah yevanith, Grecian wisdom; and which was so undervalued by them, that they joined these two under the same curse: Cursed is he that breeds hogs; and cursed is he who teaches his son Grecian wisdom. Bava Kama, fol. 82. 2. Jewish wisdom; that of the scribes and Pharisees, who crucified our Lord, 1Cor 2:8. 3. The Gospel, which is called the wisdom of God in a mystery, 1Cor 2:7. 4. The wisdom, του αιωνος τουτου, of this world; that system of knowledge which the Jews made up out of the writings of their scribes and doctors. This state is called העולם הזה haolam hazzeh, this or the present world; to distinguish it from העולם הבא haolam habba the world to come; i.e. the days of the Messiah. Whether we understand the term, this world, as relating to the state of the Gentiles, cultivated to the uttermost in philosophical learning, or the then state of the Jews, who had made the word of God of no effect by their traditions, which contained a sort of learning of which they were very fond and very proud, yet, by this Grecian and Jewish wisdom, no soul ever could have arrived at any such knowledge or wisdom as that communicated by the revelation of Christ. This was perfect wisdom; and they who were thoroughly instructed in it, and had received the grace of the Gospel, were termed τελειοι, the perfect. This, says the apostle, is not the wisdom of this world, for that has not the manifested Messiah in it; nor the wisdom of the rulers of this world - the chief men, whether philosophers among the Greeks, or rabbins among the Jews (for those we are to understand as implied in the term rulers, used here by the apostle) these rulers came to nought; for they, their wisdom, and their government, were shortly afterwards overturned in the destruction of Jerusalem. This declaration of the apostle is prophetic. The ruin of the Grecian superstition soon followed.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 1 Corinthians 2:6-9
Those who receive the doctrine of Christ as Divine, and, having been enlightened by the Holy Spirit, have looked well into it, see not only the plain history of Christ, and him crucified, but the deep and admirable designs of Divine wisdom therein. It is the mystery made manifest to the saints, Col 1:26, though formerly hid from the heathen world; it was only shown in dark types and distant prophecies, but now is revealed and made known by the Spirit of God. Jesus Christ is the Lord of glory; a title much too great for any creature. There are many things which people would not do, if they knew the wisdom of God in the great work of redemption. There are things God hath prepared for those that love him, and wait for him, which sense cannot discover, no teaching can convey to our ears, nor can it yet enter our hearts. We must take them as they stand in the Scriptures, as God hath been pleased to reveal them to us.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

1 Corinthians 2:6 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ΣοφίανSophianWisdomG4678
δὲdehoweverG1161
λαλοῦμενlaloumenwe speakG2980
ἐνenamongG1722
τοῖςtoistheG3588
τελείοις,teleioismature,G5046
σοφίανsophianwisdomG4678
δὲdehoweverG1161
οὐounotG3756
τοῦtou<the>G3588
αἰῶνοςaiōnosageG165
τούτουtoutouof thisG3778
οὐδὲoudenorG3761
τῶνtōnof theG3588
ἀρχόντωνarchontōnrulersG758
τοῦtou<the>G3588
αἰῶνοςaiōnosageG165
τούτουtoutouof thisG3778
τῶνtōnwhoG3588
καταργουμένων·katargoumenōnare coming to naught;G2673

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for 1 Corinthians 2:6

  • Hebrews 5:14

    But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

  • James 3:15

    This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.

  • 2 Corinthians 4:4

    In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

  • 1 Corinthians 2:8

    Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

  • 1 Corinthians 1:28

    And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:

  • Philippians 3:12-15

    Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.

  • 1 Peter 5:10

    But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.

  • Ephesians 4:11-13

    And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

  • Matthew 5:48

    Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

  • 1 Corinthians 1:18-20

    For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?

  • Job 12:21

    He poureth contempt upon princes, and weakeneth the strength of the mighty.

  • Isaiah 19:11-13

    Surely the princes of Zoan are fools, the counsel of the wise counsellors of Pharaoh is become brutish: how say ye unto Pharaoh, I am the son of the wise, the son of ancient kings? Where are they? where are thy wise men? and let them tell thee now, and let them know what the Lord of hosts hath purposed upon Egypt. The princes of Zoan are become fools, the princes of Noph are deceived; they have also seduced Egypt, even they that are the stay of the tribes thereof.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
them.
14:20; *Gr:
Job 1:1; Ps 37:37; Mt 5:48; 19:21; 2Co 13:11; Eph 4:11-13
Php 3:12-15; Col 4:12; Heb 5:14; Jas 3:2; 1Pe 5:10
not.
1,13; 1:18,19; Lu 16:8; 2Co 1:12; 4:4; Eph 2:2; Jas 3:15
of the.
8; Job 12:19,21; Ps 2:1-6; Isa 19:11-13; 40:23; Ac 4:25-28
come.
1:28; Ps 33:10

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • 1 Corinthians 2:5

    That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.

  • 1 Corinthians 2:6

    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:

  • 1 Corinthians 2:7

    But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:

Read all of 1 Corinthians 2

1 Corinthians 2:6 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Empero hablamos sabiduría entre perfectos; y sabiduría, no de este siglo, ni de los príncipes de este siglo, que se deshacen:
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Or nous parlons sagesse parmi les parfaits, sagesse toutefois non pas de ce siècle, ni des chefs de ce siècle qui s’en vont;
German
Elberfelder 1871		Wir reden aber Weisheit unter den Vollkommenen, nicht aber Weisheit dieses Zeitlaufs, noch der Fürsten dieses Zeitlaufs, die zunichte werden,
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Sapientiam autem loquimur inter perfectos: sapientiam vero non hujus sæculi, neque principum hujus sæculi, qui destruuntur: