1 Corinthians 2:9-11 (WEL) But as it is written, “Eye has not seen, not ear heard, neither has entered a person’s heart, the things which God has prepared for those who love him.” [Isaiah 64:4] 10 But God has revealed [them] to us by his Spirit because the Spirit searches everything, even the deep things of God. 11 For what person understands human things, except the human spirit, which is in him? Even so, the things of God are not understood by anyone except the Spirit of God.
V9 But as it is written, “Eye has not seen, not ear heard, neither has entered a person’s heart, the things which God has prepared for those who love him.” [Isaiah 64:4]
This is a Bible mystery. It was not revealed until now. Those who read it before would not be able to fully understand it. In many ways, this information is still secret.
Some things we do know:
The Lord Jesus is making us our home dwellings—John 14:2
He promised to return for us believers—John 14:3
He promised that the Holy Spirit would indwell believers—John 14:16-17 and 1 Corinthians 6:14-18
He promised to guide us—Romans 8:14
and many more.
V10 But God has revealed [them] to us by his Spirit because the Spirit searches everything, even the deep things of God.
This is the main passage about the inspiration of the Bible. Us refers to the Apostles of Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit is the teacher and revealer.
Some questions: Why can’t anyone know what God thinks? How does God communicate perfectly? Explain the doctrine of verbal inspiration.
The answer is given in verse 11.
V11 For what person understands human things, except the human spirit, which is in him? Even so, the things of God are not understood by anyone except the Spirit of God.
Here is a human comparison:
I do not know what my wife is thinking. I may have a reasonable idea, but I do not know unless she tells me. The same applies to God. I do not know what God thinks. The Holy Spirit does know. He is able to communicate perfectly.
See “Untranslatable Riches” (Kenneth S. Wuest) in the section titled: “Paul’s Doctrine of Verbal Inspiration”
A summary from Felo AI:
“The passage discusses the doctrine of verbal inspiration as articulated by Paul, emphasizing that the Bible writers were guided by the Holy Spirit in choosing the exact words to convey divine truths. Paul asserts that the words used were not based on human wisdom but were taught by the Spirit, ensuring that the writers expressed the truth accurately without losing their individual styles or personalities.
The text highlights that different authors, like Luke, Paul, and John, used varying levels of Greek proficiency, yet all conveyed profound truths correctly. The Holy Spirit guided them in selecting words that adhered to the grammatical rules of Koine Greek, resulting in an infallible record of revelation.
“Paul’s phrase “comparing spiritual things with spiritual” illustrates the process of selecting the right words. The term “comparing” suggests a careful judgment process, akin to a milliner matching a ribbon to a hat, where the writers, led by the Holy Spirit, sifted through their vocabulary to find the most fitting words to express the revealed truths.
“The passage concludes by explaining the grammatical nuances of the terms “spiritual things” and “spiritual words,” indicating that the former refers to the revealed truths and the latter to the words chosen to convey those truths. This process of combining the two ensures that the message remains true to its divine origin.”
We learn:
- About the necessity of the Holy Spirit in the writing of the Scriptures.
- About the doctrine of verbal inspiration.
Questions:
- Do you believe that the Holy Spirit can communicate perfectly?
- Do you believe the words of Scripture in their plain, normal sense?