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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadCambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges - 1 Corinthians 2:16 - 2:16
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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
16. τίς γὰρ ἔγνω νοῦν κυρίου. See note on 1Co 1:10. The Hebrew of Isa 40:13, here quoted (and also in Rom 11:34), has spirit, the Septuagint mind. St Paul here follows the Septuagint, which is nearer to the original than our version, ‘Who hath directed the Spirit of the Lord?’ The literal translation is, ‘Who hath measured (or weighed) the Spirit of the Lord?’ As none but the believer possesses the mind of the Lord, and as none can venture to assume a position of intellectual superiority to Him, the assertion in the preceding verse is established. The possession of this mind of Christ renders him who has it a mystery to him who has it not. The workings of his soul, thus enlightened by a higher power, are inscrutable to those who are destitute of spiritual vision. We must not omit to notice that in the passage which the Apostle here quotes as referring to Christ the original has JEHOVAH. See also Jer 23:18. The aorist here is the LXX. rendering of the Hebrew perfect, and indicates the process, as the Hebrew perfect indicates the result. Translate hath known.
ὃς συμβιβάσει αὐτόν. συμβιβάζω is originally to compact (cf. Eph 4:16, Col 2:2-19). Hence to prove (by arguments combined together) (Act 9:22). Next to conclude, by such arguments (Act 16:10). And here to instruct, by the careful arrangement of facts. The future, as in ch. 1Co 14:16, Rom 3:6, has the sense of possibility, ‘who is able to instruct Him.’ See Winer, Gr. Gram. Pt III., § 40.
ἡμεῖς δέ. If we attempt to speak with authority, it is on the ground of our spiritual enlightenment. We who instruct you in the mysteries of the Christian faith derive our inspiration from Christ.
νοῦν Χριστοῦ. This passage is decisive in favour of the fact that in N. T. Greek the article is often omitted where in English it must be inserted.