1 Corinthians 2:8

ἣν οὐδεὶς κ. τ. λ.: “which (wisdom) none of the rulers of this age has perceived” all blind to the significance of the rise of Christianity. ἔγνωκεν, a pf., approaching the pr [351] sense (novi) which f1οἶδα had reached, but implying, as that does not, a process has come to know, won the knowledge of. οἱ ἄρχοντες κ. τ. λ., repeated with emphasis from 1 Corinthians 2:6 sc. “the rulers of this (great) age,” of the world in its length of history and fulness of experience (see 1 Corinthians 10:11, and note; cf. Ephesians 1:10; Ephesians 3:5; Romans 16:25 f.). The leaders of the time showed themselves miserably ignorant of God's plans and ways in dealing with the world they ruled; “for if they had known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory”. The Lord of glory is He in whom “our glory” (1 Corinthians 2:7) has its manifestation and guarantee first in His earthly, then in His heavenly estate (cf. 1 Corinthians 15:43; 1 Corinthians 15:49). τῆς δόξης, gen [352] of characterising quality (cf. Ephesians 1:17; Acts 7:2). This glory of the Son of God the disciples saw (John 1:14); of it believers now partake (Romans 8:29 f.), and will partake in full hereafter (2 Corinthians 3:18; Philippians 3:21, etc.), when it culminates in a universal dominion (1 Corinthians 15:23-29; Philippians 2:9 ff., Hebrews 1). Paul's view of Christ always shone with “the glory of that light” in which he first saw Him on the road to Damascus (Acts 22:11). Caiaphas and the Sanhedrin, Pilate and the Roman court (cf. Acts 13:27 f., 1 Timothy 6:13) saw nothing of the splendour clothing the Lord Jesus as He stood before them; so knowing, they could not have crucified Him. The expression κύριος τῆς δόξης is no syn [353] for Christ's Godhead; it signifies the entire grandeur of the incarnate Lord, whom the world's wise and great sentenced to the cross. Their ignorance was a partial excuse (see Luke 23:34; Acts 13:27); but it was guilty, like that of Romans 1:18 f. The crucifiers fairly represented worldly governments. Mark the paradox, resembling Peter's in Acts 3:15 : “ Crux servorum supplicium eo Dominum gloriæ affecerunt” (Bg [354]). The levity of philosophers in rejecting the cross of Christ was only surpassed by the stupidity of politicians in inflicting it; in both acts the wise of the age proved themselves fools, and God thereby brought them to ruin (1 Corinthians 1:28). For εἰ … ἄν, stating a hypothesis contrary to past fact (the modus tollens of logic), see Bn [355] § 248; and cf. 1 Corinthians 11:31.

[351] present tense.

[352] genitive case.

[353] synonym, synonymous.

[354] Bengel's Gnomon Novi Testamenti.

[355] E. Burton's Syntax of the Moods and Tenses in the N.T. (1894).