Whose wisdom does Paul contrast with the wisdom he speaks?
Paul contrasts the wisdom he speaks with the wisdom of this world—the wisdom of men, not of God. He says he speaks the hidden wisdom of God, ordained before the world, while the wisdom of this world and its princes and rulers come to naught.
Les explains that 1 Corinthians keeps returning to the theme of the wisdom of men versus the wisdom of God. Paul says, “Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect,” and Les points out that “perfect” means mature, not sinless. Yet this wisdom is not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes and rulers of this world, which come to naught. Instead, Paul speaks the wisdom of God in a secret, even the hidden wisdom God ordained before the world to our glory.
Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought: