1 Corinthians 2:1-5 tells us that Paul did not use lofty words or human wisdom to preach the Gospel, but he preached Jesus as crucified in its most objective and straightforward form. Even when Paul was weak, he told the Corinthians about Jesus Christ crucified. Paul’s way of preaching was very unique because God used Paul’s teachings to spread His Holy Spirit and to demonstrate the power of God through newly saved souls. Some people may draw people to Christ by other means, like morality, prosperity, or goodness, but the most important thing to be attracted to is what Jesus did on the cross for us. God tells us to put our faith in the power of God, not the wisdom of man. Christ needs to be our firm foundation.
Paul says in verses 6-13 that he does give wisdom, but it is not wisdom of the world, which passes away; it is the wisdom of God that is secret, hidden, and everlasting. Paul goes on to tell us about how the spirit of a person knows the thoughts of the man, and so the Spirit of God knows God’s thoughts. Paul shows us that God gives us His Holy Spirit, and therefore, gives us His own wisdom and thoughts as well. The good news that the Holy Spirit has revealed to us is the Gospel of Christ. The Holy Spirit is our teacher in spiritual ways.
Finally, in verses 14-16, Paul juxtaposes the natural man and the spiritual man. The natural man is a foolish man who thinks that he does not need God since he lives for himself in this temporary lifetime. However, the spiritual man has the Spirit of God in him, giving him wisdom from God. The passage implies that the natural man is foolish for not accepting the Gospel, and that the natural man has no authority to judge the spiritual man.
What does this mean for us today? This passage teaches me that I need to seek Christ for His life, death, and resurrection. Many times, Jesus’s morality, healing powers, and generosity take up the spotlight on Jesus, or maybe the preacher/speaker takes up the spotlight as well. The most attractive part about Jesus should be the work that He did on the cross. Also, God has shown me that His Holy Spirit truly does live inside of me. Otherwise, there would have been no way for me to receive the Gospel of Jesus.