1 Corinthians 2:8 Meaning and Explanation
“Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The rulers of this age failed to grasp God's wisdom, and in their blindness they crucified the Lord of glory.
What Does 1 Corinthians 2:8 Mean?
Paul shows how thoroughly the world's rulers missed God's hidden wisdom. Had they understood who Jesus truly was, they would never have put him to death. Their ignorance is laid bare in the most terrible act imaginable: they crucified the Lord of glory.
There is deep irony here. The very ones who held earthly power were blind to the One who holds all glory. The crucifixion, meant to be a final defeat, became instead the means of redemption. To call the crucified Jesus the Lord of glory is to confess that the deepest humiliation and the highest majesty met at the cross. For the reader, this guards against trusting the judgments of the powerful. Worldly authority did not recognize God in its midst, yet God was working salvation through the very wrong they committed.
1 Corinthians 2:8 in the Original Language
doxa (δόξα), 'glory' -- radiant honor and majesty; to name Jesus the Lord of glory is to ascribe to him the splendor that belongs to God.
Frequently Asked Questions About 1 Corinthians 2:8
What does 1 Corinthians 2:8 mean?
The rulers of this age failed to grasp God's wisdom, and in their blindness they crucified the Lord of glory.