1 Corinthians 2:13

1 Corinthians 2:13 in other versions

• King James Version (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.
• New International Version (NIV)This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words.
• English Standard Version (ESV)And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.
• New King James Version (NKJV)These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

Context of 1 Corinthians 2:13

11For who among men knows the thoughts of man except his own spirit within him? So too, no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 12We have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. 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. 14The natural man does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God. For they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. 15The spiritual man judges all things, but he himself is not subject to anyone’s judgment.

1 Corinthians 2:13 word by word

ἃ καὶ λαλοῦμεν οὐκ ἐν διδακτοῖς ἀνθρωπίνης σοφίας λόγοις ἀλλ᾽ ἐν διδακτοῖς πνεύματος πνευματικοῖς πνευματικὰ συγκρίνοντες.Read the interlinear

• Andκαίkai · andG2532
• ·ὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
• we speakλαλέωlaleō · to speakG2980
• notοὐou · noG3756
• inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• wordsλόγοςlogos · wordG3056
• taughtδιδακτόςdidaktos · taughtG1318
• by humanἀνθρώπινοςanthrōpinos · humanG442
• wisdomσοφίαsophia · wisdomG4678
• butἀλλάalla · butG235
• by the Spiritπνεῦμαpneuma · spirit/breath: spiritG4151
• expressingσυγκρίνωsugkrinō · to compareG4793
• spiritual truthsπνευματικόςpneumatikos · spiritualG4152

Cross-references for 1 Corinthians 2:13

• 1 Corinthians 2:4My message and my preaching were not with persuasive words of wisdom, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power,
• 1 Corinthians 1:17For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with words of wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.
• 2 Peter 1:16For we did not follow cleverly 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 Corinthians 12:1Now about spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be uninformed.
• 1 Corinthians 14:2For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men, but to God. Indeed, no one understands him; he utters mysteries in the Spirit.
• Luke 12:12For at that time the Holy Spirit will teach you what you should say.”
• Acts 2:4And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
• 1 Peter 1:12It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves, but you, when they foretold the things now announced by those who preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things.
• 1 Corinthians 2:14The natural man does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God. For they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.
• 1 Corinthians 9:11If we have sown spiritual seed among you, is it too much for us to reap a material harvest from you?
• 1 Corinthians 10:3They all ate the same spiritual food
• Ephesians 5:19Speak to one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your hearts to the Lord,
• Colossians 3:16Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.

Commentaries on 1 Corinthians 2:13

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 13Which things also we speak - We dare no more use the language of the Jews and the Gentiles in speaking of those glorious things, than we can indulge their spirit. The Greek orators affected a high and florid language, full of tropes and figures, which dazzled more than it enlightened. The rabbins affected obscurity, and were studious to find out cabalistical meanings, which had no tendency to make the people wise unto salvation. The apostles could not…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 13Which things we speak - Which great, and glorious, and certain truths, we, the apostles, preach and explain. Not in the words which man‘s wisdom teacheth - Not such as human philosophy or eloquence would dictate. They do not have their origin in the devices of human wisdom, and they are not expressed in such words of dazzling and attractive rhetoric as would be employed by those who pride themselves on the wisdom of this world. But which the Holy Ghost…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 10-16Verses 10-16 God has revealed true wisdom to us by his Spirit. Here is a proof of the Divine authority of the Holy Scriptures, 2Pe 1:21. In proof of the Divinity of the Holy Ghost, observe, that he knows all things, and he searches all things, even the deep things of God. No one can know the things of God, but his Holy Spirit, who is one with the Father and the Son, and who makes known Divine mysteries to his church. This is most clear testimony, both to…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 13in words taught by the Spirit: Spiritual wisdom differs from human wisdom. The way spiritual wisdom is taught must differ from the way human wisdom is taught. Communicating and learning spiritual truth must happen through the Spirit's dimension and power. It is not just a rational, human exercise.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1313. also--We not only know by the Holy Ghost, but we also speak the "things freely given to us of God" (1Co 2:12). which the Holy Ghost teacheth--The old manuscripts read "the Spirit" simply, without "Holy." comparing spiritual things with spiritual--expounding the Spirit-inspired Old Testament Scripture, by comparison with the Gospel which Jesus by the same Spirit revealed [Grotius]; and conversely illustrating the Gospel mysteries by comparing them with…Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Corinthians 2:13

• Holy Spirit
• Philosophy
• Preaching
• Reasoning
• Righteous
• Wisdom
• Word of God
• Zeal, Religious

In the dictionaries

• Holy Ghost
• Spiritual Things
• Apostle
• Corinthians, First Epistle to the
• Judge
• Lord
• Mystery
• Spiritually
• Testimony
• 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