The Holy Spirit shares the gospel with the church and everyone who would listen through the apostles. The Bible contains written accounts of the apostles’ teachings. Thus, the church and the Bible are the channels via which the Holy Spirit operates. Paul informs us about this in 1 Corinthians 2:7–13. (Of course, there is more to be said concerning the operation of the Holy Spirit. The explanation of this text is the only thing this article covers.)
The Gospel is a mystery
“We teach God’s secret and hidden wisdom, which God predetermined for our glory before the foundation of the world.” (1 Corinthians 2:7)
Here, the Gospel is referred to as a “mystery.” Now, take this not too literally. Paul believes that a mystery need not stay a mystery. Paul almost always refers to something that was previously unknown but has since been revealed by God when he talks of a “mystery.” He mentions this multiple times, emphasizing how Jews and Gentiles become one in Christ and constitute the church as a whole (Ephesians 3:6). However, in this context, the mystery alludes to what Jesus accomplished. The fact that God’s Son came to earth and died on the cross to atone for our sins is what makes this mystery.
The mystery has been revealed
“As it is written, God has revealed to us through the Spirit what no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor man’s heart imagined, what God has prepared for those who love Him.” Corinthians 2:10–11
This Bible scripture is frequently repeated to encourage anticipation of what God will grant us in eternal life. However, that is not the subject of this verse. Ultimately, the following line states that “the Spirit has revealed these things to us.” Thus, we are aware of what God has in store for His people! It’s Jesus Christ, and that’s Him on the cross. That remained a mystery.
The fact that God permitted His Son to be born on our planet had never been witnessed. Indeed, despite the [many prophesies] that announced different parts of Jesus’ presence and ministry, the heart of man had never dreamed that God would give His Son as a sacrifice for sin.
The mystery was revealed to the apostles
“The Spirit has revealed these things to us from God. Because everything is searched by the Spirit, even God’s depths. 1 Corinthians 2:10
Who is meant here by “us”? Let’s examine. We often assume that this applies to “all of us,” meaning Paul, his readers, and those of us who became believers later. That is accurate, in my opinion, but only in a derived sense. “Us” has a different connotation in the beginning. Just consider Paul’s prior use of the pronoun “us” in this letter. One of his references to “us who are being saved” is in 1 Corinthians 1:18. After that, he talks about his readers and himself.
He states that “we preach Christ crucified” in 1 Corinthians 1:23. Next, he discusses the role of preachers and apostles. In the first chapter, he made reference to himself, Cephas (Peter), and Apollos. So, when he refers to the apostles in 1 Corinthians 2:6, “we do impart wisdom,” he means them as well. Therefore, the apostles are primarily meant when 1 Corinthians 2:10 states, “These things God has revealed to us through the Spirit.”
Why am I emphasizing this? Because it is simple to believe otherwise: Every believer’s heart immediately reveals it through the work of God’s Spirit. It also implies that you won’t be able to discuss it much with each other. You then say, “The Spirit has shown me this,” but who will determine if that is indeed the case? Here, however, it states that the apostles were given a revelation by the Holy Spirit on God’s plan of salvation through Christ. And they transmitted it to others through their writings and sermons. Thus, the Bible contains the revelations that God has given to us as human beings in the twenty-first century through the power of His Spirit.
The Spirit is for every believer
“To help us understand the things that God has freely given us, we have received the Spirit of God instead of the spirit of the world.” (1 Corinthians 2:12)
Here we are discussing “us” once more. Once more, the apostles are intended to be there initially. “We” know the things that God has kindly given to us, and we have received the Spirit, which is from God. Verse 13 makes clear that the apostles are the main focus of this. It states, “We impart this in words,” before discussing the apostolic message.
However, I contend that this is not just about the apostles but also particularly about them. Since “the things freely given us by God” is also mentioned. And what has been kindly bestowed upon us once more revolves around the Lord Jesus, the assurance of eternal life and the forgiveness of our sins via His death. These, of course, apply to all believers, not just the apostles.
The Spirit enables us to speak about Jesus
“And we teach this in words that are not taught by human wisdom, but by the Spirit, explaining spiritual truths to spiritual people.” (2 Corinthians 2:13)
Paul reiterates what he said in verses two and four in this passage, using new language. He is speaking exclusively of Christ who was crucified. (Because this pertains to what Christ accomplished for us.) He doesn’t say that in words of human knowledge that are convincing. No, he uses spiritual force to accomplish that. Paul then summarizes the entire section and makes it apparent that it is all about a single topic.
It’s all about Jesus
The primary thrust of Paul’s argument in this chapter can be understood as an extension of a well-known passage on the Holy Spirit found in John 16:14, where the Lord Jesus describes the Spirit, saying of Him, “He will glorify me, for He will take what is mine and declare it to you.” In 1 Corinthians 2, Paul makes the following claim: [God has a purpose from eternity.]
We now hear what the apostles were shown by the Holy Spirit. It concerns Jesus Christ, who was crucified. Anyone who believes in Christ and is raised from the dead is granted forgiveness and eternal life. You can only accept that reality via the power of the Holy Spirit; you cannot do so by using human reason.
You learn about Jesus through the Bible and in the church
One aspect of the Holy Spirit’s operation is experiential. Consider [the spiritual gifts] and the fruit of the Spirit. However, 1 Corinthians 2 demonstrates that there is a knowledge component as well. The teachings of the apostles that we read about in the Bible and hear preached in churches serve as a vehicle through which the Holy Spirit teaches us God’s truth. Read, study, and believe the Bible with other believers in God’s church if you want the Holy Spirit to act in your life.
