What does 1 Corinthians 2:7 mean by the wisdom of God that has come out of a secret?
The wisdom of God that has come out of a secret is the previously hidden divine revelation—the Gospel of the grace of God—kept secret in Old Testament times and in the Gospel accounts, then revealed through Paul. It is not the wisdom of the world, but God’s sovereignly unveiled truth for Jew and Gentile alike.
Les explains that 1 Corinthians 2:7 refers back to Deuteronomy 29:29, where the secret things belong unto the Lord our God, but the things revealed belong unto us and our children. That same principle applies today: God has seen fit to keep things secret until, in His sovereign grace, He saw fit to release and reveal them. This is the Pauline doctrine. It was secret; the Old Testament knew nothing of what we call the Gospel of the grace of God, and the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John knew nothing of Paul’s Gospel that went out to Jew and Gentile alike. Paul repeatedly says he is showing a secret or mystery. In 1 Corinthians 2:6-7, Paul is not speaking the wisdom of the world, but the wisdom of God that has come out of a secret—revelation given to this apostle, kept secret and now coming into full view and full understanding.
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:
But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:
What does Paul say in 1 Corinthians 2:7?
Paul writes that he and others speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, a secret, even the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the world for our glory. This was God's foreknowledge, hidden from the nation but revealed to the few who understood.
Was the wisdom God gave to Paul kept secret before it was revealed?
Yes. The wisdom God gave to Paul was kept secret until God sovereignly revealed it. The Old Testament knew nothing of the Gospel of the grace of God, and the Gospels knew nothing of Paul's Gospel. Paul repeatedly spoke of revealing a mystery, now coming into full view and understanding.
Had the revelations given to Paul been kept secret until his time?
Yes. Paul's revelations had indeed remained hidden until God, in His sovereign grace, revealed them during Paul's lifetime. The Old Testament and the Gospels knew nothing of the Gospel of the grace of God, but Paul repeatedly announced a mystery now made known.
More Questions
What does 1 Corinthians 2:7 say about hidden wisdom and God’s foreknowledge?
According to 1 Corinthians 2:7, the wisdom Paul speaks is the wisdom of God in a mystery—a secret, hidden wisdom that God ordained before the world—and this indicates the foreknowledge of God that Paul would be where he was.