These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
Parallel translations
- WEB Which things also we speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches, but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual things.
- KJV 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.
- BSB And this is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom, but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words.
- NASB We also speak these things, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words.
- NLT When we tell you these things, we do not use words that come from human wisdom. Instead, we speak words given to us by the Spirit, using the Spirit’s words to explain spiritual truths.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Paul speaks these truths in words taught by the Spirit, matching spiritual realities with spiritual words. The Spirit shapes both the content and communication of God's truth.
Overview
Paul claims the Spirit not only reveals truth but guides its very expression, so apostolic teaching is Spirit-taught, not merely human wisdom. The phrase 'comparing spiritual things with spiritual things' likely means interpreting spiritual truths in Spirit-given words. This underscores the Spirit's role in the reliable communication of the gospel.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 14
- 1 Cor 2:14Now the natural man doesn’t receive the things of God’s Spirit, for they are foolishness to him, and he can’t know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
- 1 Cor 2:4My speech and my preaching were not in persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power,
- 1 Cor 1:17For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the Good News — not in wisdom of words, so that the cross of Christ wouldn’t be made void.
- 1 Cor 12:1–3Now concerning spiritual things, brothers, I don’t want you to be ignorant.
- Col 3:16Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your heart to the Lord.
- 1 Cor 2:1When I came to you, brothers, I didn’t come with excellence of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God.
- 1 Pet 1:12To them it was revealed, that not to themselves, but to you, they ministered these things, which now have been announced to you through those who preached the Good News to you by the Holy Spirit sent out from heaven; which things angels desire to look into.
- Luke 12:12for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that same hour what you must say.”
- 1 Cor 14:2For he who speaks in another language speaks not to men, but to God; for no one understands; but in the Spirit he speaks mysteries.
- 1 Cor 10:3–5and all ate the same spiritual food;
- 2 Pet 1:16For we did not follow cunningly devised fables, when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty.
- 1 Cor 9:11If we sowed to you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we reap your fleshly things?
- Eph 5:19speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs; singing, and making melody in your heart to the Lord;
- Acts 2:4They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other languages, as the Spirit gave them the ability to speak.
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Christ at the center
Christ crucified is the wisdom and power of God; he is our Passover sacrificed for us, the firstfruits of resurrection, the foundation on which everything is built.
How 1 Corinthians 2:13 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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