“For ‘who has known the mind of the LORD that he may instruct Him?’ But we have the mind of Christ.” – 1 Corinthians 2:16 (NKJV)
I’ve always understood the first line of this verse how the New King James Version puts it. (Today I’m quoting from the NKJV of the Bible.) It’s a question about who might dare to teach God. As if He needed their instruction!
By rendering “he” in lowercase and “Him” in upper case, the translators go along with this perspective.
But while working on today’s post, I had trouble finding anyone in 1 Corinthians whom Paul criticized for trying to explain things to God. So I wondered if the capital “H” was on the wrong pronoun. We could translate the question this way:
“Who has known the mind of the LORD that He may instruct him?
This would be referring to people who have learned the Scriptures and look to God’s guidance. If He wants to tell them something, their ears are open! That’s great, so long as it doesn’t lead to pride.
This approach fits the context of 1 Corinthians. Paul wrote the letter because the church in the city of Corinth was suffering spiritual confusion. Believers were judging each other based on which spiritual gifts they valued. They ignored various sins because they believed the works of the flesh don’t impact a person’s spiritual life. And they formed cliques who favored certain pastors and teachers over others.
All these actions conveyed a disturbing arrogance. Many Christians in Corinth viewed themselves as superior to others, possessing special insights.
So Paul had to confront and correct them.
But!
The question in verse 16 is a quotation of Isaiah 40:13. Here’s the larger passage:
“Who has measured the waters in the hollow of His hand, measured heaven with a span and calculated the dust of the earth in a measure? Weighed the mountains in scales and the hills in a balance? 13Who has directed the Spirit of the LORD, or as His counselor has taught Him? 14With whom did He take counsel, and who instructed Him, and taught Him in the path of justice? Who taught Him knowledge, and showed Him the way of understanding?” – Isaiah 40:12-14
The prophet stresses the gap between human and divine wisdom and power. No one can outmatch God in a battle of wits and no one can beat Him in armwrestling! He’s neither weak nor foolish. In theological terms, God is omnipotent and omniscient. The creation reveals His power and wisdom.
But in 1 Corinthians, Paul isn’t talking about God creating the universe. He’s discussing the spiritual condition of the Corinthians Christians. And here’s his sad assessment:
“And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. 2I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able; 3for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men? 4For when one says, ‘I am of Paul,’ and another, ‘I am of Apollos,’ are you not carnal?’” – 1 Corinthians 3:1-4
Isaiah was exalting about God’s abilities as seen in the creation of the world. Paul was exploring the divine plan of the redemption of that world. The establishment of the natural world reveals the depth of God’s knowledge. So does its salvation.
Based on Isaiah 40, we can treat the first translation option as more sound than the second one. 1 Corinthians 2:16 emphasizes human poverty; we can’t help God.
But Paul doesn’t leave us there. The verse has a second line: “we have the mind of Christ.”
The thoughts of God at work in creation and redemption are too great for us, but the Holy Spirit has brought them near. In Christ, we now have strength; in Christ, we now have insight. No more lack!
But this testifies to God’s grace, not to our qualifications. By ourselves, we fall short, but we’re not by ourselves. Not anymore! By trusting in Jesus, the Holy Spirit has come to dwell within us. We have the mind of Christ because we have the Holy Spirit. He is the mind of Christ!
By the help of the Spirit we learn to operate in the authority Jesus gives us under the guidance He provides. He trains us to think like Jesus and to act like Him as we represent Him in this world. What a privilege!
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