1 Corinthians 2:16 Meaning and Explanation
“For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →No one can instruct the Lord, whose mind surpasses all; yet through the Spirit, believers are given the mind of Christ.
What Does 1 Corinthians 2:16 Mean?
Paul closes the chapter by recalling the prophet's question: who has ever known the mind of the Lord so well as to teach him? The expected answer is no one. Then comes the breathtaking turn that crowns the whole argument: but we have the mind of Christ.
No human being can stand over God to instruct him; his understanding is beyond all counsel. And yet, by the gift of the Spirit, believers are granted to share in the very mind of Christ. What could never be seized by human wisdom is given freely in him. This is the height of grace: not that we have mastered God, but that Christ shares his own mind with us. For the reader, it means the way of true understanding is to abide in Christ, letting his thoughts increasingly become our own.
1 Corinthians 2:16 in the Original Language
nous (νοῦς), 'mind' -- the seat of understanding and thought; to have the mind of Christ is to share in his way of perceiving and knowing.
Frequently Asked Questions About 1 Corinthians 2:16
What does 1 Corinthians 2:16 mean?
No one can instruct the Lord, whose mind surpasses all; yet through the Spirit, believers are given the mind of Christ.