1 Corinthians 2:8

1 Corinthians 2:8 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
• New International Version (NIV)None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
• English Standard Version (ESV)None of the rulers of this age understood this, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
• New King James Version (NKJV)which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

Context of 1 Corinthians 2:8

6Yet we do speak wisdom among those spiritually mature [believers who have teachable hearts and a greater understanding]; but [it is a higher] wisdom not [the wisdom] of this present age nor of the rulers and leaders of this age, who are passing away; 7but we speak God’s wisdom in a mystery, the wisdom once hidden [from man, but now revealed to us by God, that wisdom] which God predestined before the ages to our glory [to lift us into the glory of His presence]. None of the rulers of this age recognized and understood this wisdom; for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory; 9but just as it is written [in Scripture], “Things which the eye has not seen and the ear has not heard, And which have not entered the heart of man, All that God has prepared for those who love Him [who hold Him in affectionate reverence, who obey Him, and who gratefully recognize the benefits that He has bestowed].” 10For God has unveiled them and revealed them to us through the [Holy] Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things [diligently], even [sounding and measuring] the [profound] depths of God [the divine counsels and things far beyond human understanding].

1 Corinthians 2:8 word by word

ἣν οὐδεὶς τῶν ἀρχόντων τοῦ αἰῶνος τούτου ἔγνωκεν· εἰ γὰρ ἔγνωσαν, οὐκ ἂν τὸν κύριον τῆς δόξης ἐσταύρωσαν,Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Whichὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
• noneοὐδείςoudeis · noneG3762
• of the princesὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• of the princesἄρχωνarchōn · rulerG758
• of thisοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
• worldαἰώνaiōn · an age: ageG165
• knewγινώσκωginōskō · to knowG1097
• forγάρgar · forG1063
• hadεἰei · ifG1487
• they wouldσταυρόωstauroō · to crucifyG4717
• notοὐou · noG3756
• notἄνan · ifG302
• the Lordκύριοςkurios · lord: GodG2962
• of gloryδόξαdoxa · gloryG1391

Cross-references for 1 Corinthians 2:8

• 1 Corinthians 2:6Yet we do speak wisdom among those spiritually mature [believers who have teachable hearts and a greater understanding]; but [it is a higher] wisdom not [the wisdom] of this present age nor of the rulers and leaders of this age, who are passing away;
• 1 Corinthians 1:26Just look at your own calling, believers; not many [of you were considered] wise according to human standards, not many powerful or influential, not many of high and noble birth.
• Matthew 11:25At that time Jesus said, “I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth [I openly and joyfully acknowledge Your great wisdom], that You have hidden these things [these spiritual truths] from the wise and intelligent and revealed them to infants [to new believers, to those seeking God’s will and purpose].
• John 7:48Has any of the rulers or Pharisees believed in Him?
• Luke 23:34And Jesus was saying, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” And they cast lots, dividing His clothes among themselves.
• John 3:19This is the judgment [that is, the cause for indictment, the test by which people are judged, the basis for the sentence]: the Light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil.
• John 8:19Then the Pharisees said to Him, “Where is this Father of Yours?” Jesus answered, “You know neither Me nor My Father; if you knew Me, you would know My Father also.”
• John 9:39Then Jesus said, “I came into this world for judgment [to separate those who believe in Me from those who reject Me—to declare judgment on those who choose to be separated from God], so that the sightless would see, and those who see would become blind.”
• John 12:40“He has blinded their eyes and He hardened their heart, to keep them from seeing with their eyes and understanding with their heart and being converted; otherwise, I [their God] would heal them.”
• John 15:22If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have [the guilt of their] sin; but now they have no excuse for their sin.
• John 16:3And they will do these things because they have not known the Father or Me.
• Acts 3:17“Now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance [not fully aware of what you were doing], just as your rulers did also.
• Acts 13:27For those who live in Jerusalem, and their rulers, who failed to recognize or understand both Jesus and the voices of the prophets which are read every Sabbath, have fulfilled these [very prophecies] by condemning Him.
• 2 Corinthians 3:14But [in fact] their minds were hardened [for they had lost the ability to understand]; for until this very day at the reading of the old covenant the same veil remains unlifted, because it is removed [only] in Christ.
• 1 Timothy 1:13even though I was formerly a blasphemer [of our Lord] and a persecutor [of His church] and a shameful and outrageous and violent aggressor [toward believers]. Yet I was shown mercy because I acted out of ignorance in unbelief.
• Psalms 24:7Lift up your heads, O gates, And be lifted up, ancient doors, That the King of glory may come in.

Commentaries on 1 Corinthians 2:8

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 8Which none of the princes of this world knew - Here it is evident that this world refers to the Jewish state, and to the degree of knowledge in that state: and the rulers, the priests, rabbins, etc., who were principally concerned in the crucifixion of our Lord. The Lord of glory - Or the glorious Lord, infinitely transcending all the rulers of the universe; whose is eternal glory; who gave that glorious Gospel in which his followers may glory, as it…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 8Which none of the princes - None of those rulers who were engaged in the crucifixion of the Messiah, referring both to the Jewish rulers, and the Roman governor. Knew - They did not perceive or appreciate the excellency of his character, the wisdom of his plan, the glory of his scheme of salvation. Their ignorance arose from not understanding the prophecies, and from an unwillingness to be convinced that Jesus of Nazareth had been truly sent by God. In…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 6-9Verses 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…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 8The leaders of this world are likely political leaders, not spiritual ones (see also 1 Corinthians 15:24; compare Acts 3:14–15; 4:10; 5:29–32).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 88. Which--wisdom. The strongest proof of the natural man's destitution of heavenly wisdom. crucified ... Lord of glory--implying the inseparable connection of Christ's humanity and His divinity. The Lord of glory (which He had in His own right before the world was, Joh 17:4, 24) was crucified.Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Corinthians 2:8

• Blindness
• Cross
• Ignorance
• Jesus, the Christ
• Mysteries
• Philosophy
• Preaching
• Reasoning
• Salvation
• Wisdom

In the dictionaries

• Corinthians, First Epistle to the
• Incarnation
• Judge
• Lord
• Magistrate
• Mystery
• Spiritually
• Testimony
• Wisdom
• Wise, wisdom

Commentaries on 1 Corinthians 2

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings