I Corinthians 2:8
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None of the rulers of this age understood it. For if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
Which--wisdom. The strongest proof of the natural man's destitution of heavenly wisdom. crucified . . . Lord of glory--implying the inseparable connection of Christ's humanity and His divinity. The Lord of glory (which He had in His own right before the world was, Joh 17:4, Joh 17:24) was crucified.
Open source ↗The apostle proceeds with his argument in this chapter, and, I. Reminds the Corinthians of the plain manner wherein he delivered the gospel to them (Co1 2:1-5). But yet, II. Shows them that he had communicated to them a treasure of the truest and highest wisdom, such as exceeded all the attainments of learned men, such as could never have entered into the heart of man if it had not been revealed, nor can be received and improved to salvation but by the light and influence of that Spirit who revealed it (Co1 2:6 to the end).
Open source ↗2:8 The rulers of this world are probably political rulers rather than spiritual authorities (see also 15:24; cp. Acts 3:14-15; 4:10; 5:29-32).
Open source ↗Cross-references
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The people of Jerusalem and their rulers did not recognize Jesus, yet in condemning Him they fulfilled the words of the prophets that are read every Sabbath.
My brothers, as you hold out your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, do not show favoritism.
And Stephen declared: “Brothers and fathers, listen to me! The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham while he was still in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Haran,
Among the mature, however, we speak a message of wisdom—but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing.
But their minds were closed. For to this day the same veil remains at the reading of the old covenant. It has not been lifted, because only in Christ can it be removed.
I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and a violent man; yet because I had acted in ignorance and unbelief, I was shown mercy.
“Where is Your Father?” they asked Him. “You do not know Me or My Father,” Jesus answered. “If you knew Me, you would know My Father as well.”
They will do these things because they have not known the Father or Me.
At that time Jesus declared, “I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because You have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children.
“Have any of the rulers or Pharisees believed in Him?