1 Corinthians 2:8-12

1Corinthians 2:8

None             of the rulers  

Cf. James 2:1

of this age               understood this,

for  if             they had,

they would not have crucified          the Lord of glory.

The elite of this world did not understand what they were doing.  Despite their pretentions, they knew nothing about God’s plan for rescuing mankind from sin.  They pontificated about a holiness they did not posses or understand.  As a result they killed the one who came to save them and missed the salvation that was so freely offered to them.

So it is today, many of the so-called elite do not understand God’s will or way.  Elite scientists, elite politicians, elite civic leaders, even some elite religious leaders do not understand God’s will or way despite all their pretentions to knowledge.

1Corinthians 2:9

.

But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen,

Cf. Isaiah 64:4

nor ear heard,

nor the heart of man imagined,

what   God has prepared

for those who love him”—

Revealed = ̓ποκαλύπτω = apokaluptō =  to take off the cover, that is, disclose: - reveal.

1Corinthians 2:10
these things                                  God has revealed

t
o  us             

For the Spirit searches                 everything,

even the depths of God.

What God has done in and through Jesus he has done to upend the so-called elites, the so-called wise ones.  They did not love God or care what his will was.  They had their own vision of what should be and they used their power and influence to maintain their positions without regard to God’s will.

To put them to shame God prepared his actions to be accepted only by those who truly cared for him and it could only be recognized and accessed by those who truly loved him and who were prepared to accept it based on faith.

Understanding God’s will and plan could only be accomplished with the help of the Holy Spirit who was given only to those who believed.

1Corinthians 2:11

For who knows a person's thoughts       

except the spirit of that person,

which is in him?

So also         no one comprehends         the thoughts of God

except the Spirit of God.

 

1Corinthians 2:12
Now    we                 have received

not      the spirit of the world,

but      the Spirit who is from God,

that we might understand

the                                                                                things freely given us by God.

We have taken hold of the Spirit of God who comes to us that we might understand the things of God.  Is not the elites but the believers who possess and understanding of God’s will.  Believers are a privileged class.  We can, through the auspices of the Holy Spirit, know God’s thinking and see his plan for mankind.

We are also responsible for calling others to believe so they too can understand and obey God’s will for all.  Since we posses the Holy Spirit we are the only ones who have the necessary understanding and insight to reveal God’s plan. 

Jesus said as he was leaving this earth:

Matthew 28:19-20 ESV 

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

We are the only ones capable to “teach” them about Jesus and God’s plan through his life, death and resurrection.