Commentary on the Epistles to the Corinthians John Calvin
John Calvin
1 Corinthians 2:6-9
1 Corinthians 2:6-9 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 naught:
6. Porro sapientiam loquimur inter perfectos: sapientiam quidem non saeculi hujus, neque principum saeculi hujus, qui abolentur:
7. But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:
7. Sed loquimur sapientiam Dei in mysterio, quae est recondita: quam praefinivit Deus ante saecula in gloriam nostram,
8. Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
8. Quam nemo principum saeculi hujus cognovit: si emro cognovissent, nequaquam Dominum gloriae crucifixissent.
9. But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
9. Sed quemadmodum Scriptum est (Ies. 64:4.) "Quae oculus non vidit, nec auris audivit, nec in cor hominis ascenderunt, quae praeparavit Deus iis, qui ipsum diligunt."
6. We speak wisdom Lest he should appear to despise wisdom, as unlearned and ignorant men (Acts 4:13) condemn learning with a sort of barbarian ferocity, he adds, that he is not devoid of that wisdom, which was worthy of the name, but was esteemed as such by none but competent judges. By those that were perfect, he means not those that had attained a wisdom that was full and complete, but those who possess a sound and unbiased judgment. For {,{תםwhich is always rendered in the Septuagint by {τελειος} means complete 112 He twits, however, in passing, those that had no relish for his preaching, and gives them to understand that it was owing to their own fault: "If my doctrine is disrelished by any of you, those persons give sufficient evidence from that very token, that they possess a depraved and vitiated understanding, inasmuch as it will invariably be acknowledged to be the highest wisdom among men of sound intellect and correct judgment." While Paul's preaching was open to the view of all, it was, nevertheless, not always estimated according to its value, and this is the reason why he appeals to sound and unbiased judges, 113 who would declare that doctrine, which the world accounted insipid, to be true wisdom. Meanwhile, by the words we speak, he intimates that he set before them an elegant specimen of admirable wisdom, lest any one should allege that he boasted of a thing
112"Thus we read, (Genesis 25:27,) that Jacob was {{`` }תם{, אישa perfect man,'' i.e. without any manifest blemish. See also Job ,1:1 .8 The corresponding word ,{}תמיםis frequently applied to the sacrificial victims, to denote their being without blemish Exodus ;12:5 Leviticus .1:3 --- Ed
113"Il ne s'en rapporte pas a vn chacvn, mais requiert des luges entiers;" — "He does not submit the case to every one, but appeals to competent judges."