Faith In First Corinthians, Part 4: 1 Corinthians 2:6 – 8: God’s Hidden Wisdom Kept Secret Provides Salvation to Mankind while Condemning Satan & His Fallen Angels:

The past few studies have focused on several (paraphrased) verses teaching that:

• The preaching of the cross is foolishness to them that perish; but to those who believe it is the power of God, 1 Corinthians 1:1818 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

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• The wisdom of man is of the world (Greek word kosmos G2889) by which man cannot know God, but it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.” 1 Corinthians 1:2121 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.

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• The foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men, 1 Corinthians 1:2525 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

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• God hath chosen the foolish things of the world (kosmos) to confound the wise; and weak things of the world (kosmos) to confound the things which are mighty;” 1 Corinthians 1:2727 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;

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Note the Greek word “Kosmos” occurs three times in these verses. It refers to “the world, the earth, the human family.” We get our English word “cosmos” from it, which the English dictionary defines as “an orderly harmonious systematic universe and a complex orderly self-inclusive system.”

Another Greek word, “aion” (G165) is also translated “world” in the New Testament (NT), however it is most frequently translated with our English word “ever,” as in: “Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honor and glory for ever (aion) and ever (aion). Amen.” 1 Timothy 1:1717 Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

. The Apostle John uses “aion” to describe the endless eternity following time: “And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever (aion) and ever (aion).” Revelation 20:1010 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

. “And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads. And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever (aion) and ever (aion).” Revelation 22:3 - 53 And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him:

4 And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads.

5 And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.

. “Aion” is defined as “a period of time, age, forever, an unbroken age, perpetuity of time, eternity.”

Whereas man’s wisdom is described in the realm of this world “Kosmos,” quoted above, the wisdom of Satan and his demons are described in the realm of this world “aion” in 1 Corinthians 2:6 - 86 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:

7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:

8 Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

6 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:

7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:

8 Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

6 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:

7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:

8 Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

6 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:

7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:

8 Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

. “Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world (aion), nor of the princes of this world (aion), that come to nought: But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom of God , which God ordained before the world (aion) unto our glory: Which none of the princes of this world (aion) knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.” 1 Corinthians 2:6 - 8. Note the Greek word “aion,” translated “world” is found 4 times in 1 Corinthians 2:6 - 8, which addresses the following elements:

• Them that are perfect in verse 6;

Them that are perfect refers to believers during this age of Grace, as we learn from 1 Corinthians 2:1010 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.

: “But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.”

• The “princes of this world (i.e., age - aion);

The word “princes” is from the Greek “archon” (G758) found 38 times in the NT, translated variously “rulers, chief, magistrate, etc.” In many passages it refers to Jewish leaders and sometimes to Gentile leaders and Satan and his fallen angels. However, Satan is also referred to as the prince of this world (kosmos) in both John 14:3030 Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me.

and John 12:3131 Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.

where Christ said he will be judged and cast out. And he is referred to as the prince (archon) of the power of the air: “Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world (kosmos), according to the prince (archon) of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:” Ephesians 2:22 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:

2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:

. (As a side note, the Greek word translated “power” here is not “dunamis” (G1411), which describes God’s “unlimited power,” see Romans 1:44 And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:

& Romans 1:1616 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

. Here, the word “power” attributed to Satan is from the Greek “exousia” (G1849), which means “the ability of strength with which one is endued, which he either possesses or exercises, etc.,” see also Acts 26:1818 To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.

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The Greek word translated “air” is “aer” (G109) found 7 times in the NT, defined as “air, particularly the lower and denser air as distinguished from the higher and rarer air; the atmospheric region, etc.” It is the air (Greek “aer”) into which believers of this age who are alive and remain will be caught up, along with those who have died, to meet the Lord in what is called “the Rapture,” 1 Thessalonians 4:16 - 1716 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

. The last time “aer” occurs in the NT is in Revelation 16:1717 And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done.

involving the last of the seven terrible bowl Judgements: “And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done.”

Thus, Satan is not only the prince of this world (kosmos), but he is also the prince of the power of the air (aer) and as part of the “princes (archon) of this world (age - aion) in our text, 1 Corinthians 2:6 - 8. “Princes” refers to Satan and the angels who fell with him and do his bidding as in Ephesians 6:11 - 1211 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

: “Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities (Greek Arche, G746), against powers (Greek “exousia” G1849), against the rulers (Greek “kosmokrator” G2888 - Satan and his demons) of the darkness of this world, (aion, G165) against spiritual wickedness in high places (Greek “epouranios” G2032 - existing in heaven).” Satan is still in heaven at this time but he is not omniscient nor is he omnipresent. He directs the actions of his subordinate fallen angles, thus he and his demons are the princes of this world (age - aion). Under Satan’s direction Satan they influence sinful mankind as quoted earlier: “Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince (archon) of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:” Ephesians 2:2.

• The “mystery,” the “hidden:”

Refers to God’s secret that He hid from before the beginning of the world: “For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles, If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward: How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) Which in other ages (Greek “genea” G1074, “the successive members of a genealogy, etc.”) was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;” Ephesians 3:1 - 51 For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles,

2 If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:

3 How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,

4 Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)

5 Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;

. The Greek word translated mystery is “musterion” (G3466), which is derived from a word meaning “shut the mouth,” meaning “secret.”

1 Corinthians 2:77 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:

emphasizes not only the fact that the Gospel he preached was a mystery, i.e., a secret, but it was hidden (from the Greek “apokrupto” G613, see Matthew 11:2525 At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.

for the first time this word is found) and God ordained or predestinated this before the world (aion) unto our (the believer’s) glory.

At some point in eternity past, a beautiful, magnificent being created by God, who we know as Satan, held a special, exalted position in heaven, but his heart was lifted up because of his beauty, and his wisdom was corrupted because of his brightness, and he sinned against God, Ezekiel 28:12 - 1712 Son of man, take up a lamentation upon the king of Tyrus, and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty.

13 Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created.

14 Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire.

15 Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.

16 By the multitude of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned: therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire.

17 Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee.

. God is totally righteous in all His ways, so He did not arbitrarily destroy Satan. But He had a plan to justly judge and condemn Satan that He had to keep secret in order to carry it out: “Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, He also Himself likewise took part of the same; that through death He might destroy him that had the power (Greek “kratos” G2904, “force, strength, etc.”) of death, that is, the devil;” Hebrews 2:1414 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;

. Satan’s “power of death” refers to his beguiling Eve in the garden and Adam following her in disobedience to God. Remember, it was God Who told Adam he would die if he ate of the forbidden fruit, so Adam and all mankind suffered death because God had said so. Satan’s deception merely facilitated mankind’s death.

God’s wisdom is far superior to Satan and his followers, for if they had known the death of Jesus Christ would seal their fate, they would not have moved the children of unbelief, the leaders of Israel and the Romans to crucify Christ. And while Christ’s death, burial and resurrection sealed their fate, it also provided salvation to any man or woman who believes the Gospel revealed to Paul, 1 Corinthians 15:1 - 41 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;

2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.

3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;

4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

. Amazingly, the preaching of the Gospel is foolishness to the vast majority of mankind as they, in the wisdom of this world follow the many religions Satan has promulgated down through the ages.