1Corinthians 2:13 – Words of human wisdom?

Which we are speaking also, not with words taught by human wisdom, but with those taught by the spirit, matching spiritual [words] with spiritual [things].

The contrast that Paul describes here is twofold. First, between the wisdom of GOD versus human wisdom. And secondly, the contrast between “words taught by human wisdom” and “spiritual words”. The vocabulary in which the Divine message is spoken and recorded, matches one hundred percent. The wisdom of which Paul spoke did not belong to himself. But also the words in which he passed it on from Divine origin.

It is impossible but also fatal to want to share Divine things by the means of “words of human wisdom”. Orthodox theology is teeming with such terminology. They have also been declared holy. Acknowledging them is a prerequisite to be allowed to preach in ‘the church’. Just think of words like ‘trinity’, ‘God the Son’ and many other terms. These are words that are unknown in the Scriptures but have been devised by clever scholars. These can be rightfully called “words of human wisdom”. And are therefore unsuitable.

If we want to understand and explain the wisdom of GOD, then it can only be done through the words that Scripture provides to us. Only those are “sound words”

Delen: