1 Corinthians 2:11

For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. WHAT MAN ... - literally, who of MEN knoweth the things of a MAN, except the spirit of that man? THINGS OF GOD KNOWETH NO MAN - rather, 'none knoweth,' not angel or man. BUT THE SPIRIT OF GOD. Supply, and he to whom the Spirit of God reveals them (so , end). Even in the case of man, so infinitely inferior to God, none of his fellow-men, but his own spirit alone, knows (whether that knowledge be great or small) what is within him. Man's spirit is the organ wherewith he receives God's Spirit, through Whom alone he can know God....

11._For what man knoweth? _Two different things he intends to teach here: _first_, that the doctrine of the Gospel cannot be understood otherwise than by the testimony of the Holy Spirit; and _secondly_, that those who have a testimony of this nature from the Holy Spirit, have an assurance as firm and solid, as if they felt with their hands what they believe, for the Spirit is a faithful and indubitable witness. This he proves by a similitude drawn from our own _spirit_: for every one is conscious of his own thoughts, and on the other hand what lies hid in any man’s heart, is unknown to another. In the same way what is the counsel of God, and what his will, is hid from all mankind, for “who hath been his counselor?” (Romans 11:34.) It is, therefore, a secret recess, inaccessible to mankind; but, if the Spirit of God himself introduces us into it, or in other words, mak

10-16 God has revealed true wisdom to us by his Spirit. Here is a proof of the Divine authority of the Holy Scriptures, 2 Peter 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 the real Godhead and the distinct person of the Holy Spirit. The apostles were not guided by worldly principles. They had the revelation of these things from the Spirit of God, and the saving impression of them from the same Spirit. These things they declared in plain, simple language, taught by the Holy Spirit, totally different from the affected oratory or enticing words of man's wisdom. The natural man, the wise man of the world, receiv...

Verse 1 Corinthians 2:11. _FOR WHAT MAN KNOWETH THE THINGS OF A MAN_] The word ανθρωπων in the first clause is omitted by the _Codex_ _Alexandrinus_, and one other; and by _Athanasius, Cyril_, and _Vigil_ of Tapsus. Bishop _Pearce_ contends strongly against the authenticity of the word, and reads the passage thus: "For what is there that knoweth the things of a man, except the spirit of a man that is in him?" "I leave out," says the learned bishop, "ανθρωπων, with the Alexandrian MS., and read τις γαρ οιδεν τα του ανθρωπου; because I conceive that the common reading is wide of St. Paul's meaning; for to say, _What man except the spirit of a_ _man_, is (I think) to speak improperly, and to suppose that the spirit of a man is a man; but it is very proper to say, _What_ _except the spirit of a man_: τις is feminine as well as masc...

FOR WHAT MAN ... - The design of this is, to illustrate what he had just said by a reference to the way in which man acquires the knowledge of himself. The purpose is to show that the Spirit has an exact and thorough knowledge of the things of God; and this is done by the very striking thought that no man can know his own mind, his own plans and intentions, but himself - his own spirit. The essential idea is, that no man can know another; that his thoughts and designs can only be known by himself, or by his own spirit; and that unless he chooses to reveal them to others, they cannot ascertain them. So of God. No man can penetrate his designs; and unless he chooses to make them known by his Spirit, they must forever remain inscrutable to human view. THE THINGS OF A MAN - The “deep things” - the hidden counsels, thoughts, plans, intentions. Save the spirit of man ..

EXPOSITION 1 CORINTHIANS 2:1 _St. Paul's own method._ 1 CORINTHIANS 2:1 AND I; "I too;" I in accordance with God's method. WHEN I CAME TO YOU. The date of his first visit was in A.D. 52, and he had stayed a year and a half (Acts 18:11). He had since been (roughly speaking) "three years" (τριετίαν_, _Acts 20:31) at Ephesus. OF SPEECH OR OF WISDOM. I spoke to you neither oratorically nor philosophically. Hence the Apollos party, fond of the brilliant rhetoric of the young Alexandrian, spoke of Pau

FOR WHAT MAN KNOWETH THE THINGS OF A MAN,.... The thoughts of a man's heart, the conceptions of his mind, the schemes he is drawing there, his designs, purposes, and intentions; these can never be known by another man, no, nor by angels or devils; not by any creature; by none SAVE THE SPIRIT OF A MAN WHICH IS IN HIM? which is only conscious to, and can only make known the things that are in him: EVEN SO THE THINGS OF GOD KNOWETH NO MAN, BUT THE SPIRIT OF GOD; and which, as it proves how secret, hidden, unknown, the mysteries of grace are, until revealed by the Spirit; so it gives full evidence to the deity of the Holy Ghost, and clearly shows he must be God, who is in him, knows the thoughts of his heart, the counsels of his mind, his purposes and decrees, and what is contained in them....

CHAPTER 2 _ 1. The Apostle's Preaching. (1 Corinthians 2:1)._ 2. The Revelation of the Spirit. (1 Corinthians 2:6). 3. The Helplessness and Ignorance of the Natural Man. (1 Corinthians 2:14). The Apostle had been among them and declared unto them the testimony of God. This he had not done with excellency of speech or wisdom. He preached unto them the Person of Jesus Christ and Him crucified. He, who is the wisdom of God, in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge (Colossians 2:3), was his one theme; he determined not to know anything among them but the Person

YET THERE IS A CHRISTIAN WISDOM REVEALED BY GOD'S SPIRIT. Yet there is a true wisdom of which the Christian teachers speak to those who are mature; not a wisdom of this world or of the angels who are its rulers and are coming to nought, but God's wisdom in a mystery now disclosed, a hidden wisdom predestined before time to secure our perfection; not known to the world-rulers, who otherwise would not have crucified the Lord of Glory. By rulers of the world Paul means angels, the principalities and powers, the elements of the world (Galatians 4:3; Galatians 4:9; Colossians 2:8). The identification with the Roman governor and the Jewish high priest, still held by some scholars, does not suit the words who are coming to noug

THE PROCLAMATION AND THE POWER (1 Corinthians 2:1-5)...