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Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 2:9

But as it is written. The whole sentence in the Greek is unfinished. The thought seems to be, "But God has revealed to us things which eye hath not seen, etc., though the princes of this world were ignorant of them." Scriptural quotations are often thus introduced, apart from the general grammar of the sentence, as in the Greek of 1 Corinthians 1:31 . Eye hath not seen, etc. The Revised Version is here more literal and accurate. The quotation as it stands is not found in the Old... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 2:9

The surprising freshness of the new dispensation. The precise words, as quoted by the apostle, are not found in the Old Testament. They are probably Isaiah 64:4 , given from memory and modified by the thought of phrases found in other parts of Isaiah. Only an unreasonable sentiment concerning verbal inspiration would make difficulty about the inexactness of quotations given from memory. The sense of a passage may be precisely indicated when the words are set in a different order and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 2:9-10

The revelation of things unseen and unheard. It may perhaps have been complained, though unreasonably enough, that Paul's compositions were lacking in logic, and his language in eloquence. There was in the substance of his teaching enough to compensate any deficiencies of such kinds. No sage communicated such wisdom, no poet such wonders, as he. Deep things, drawn by the Spirit from the ocean of God's unfathomable nature, were brought up, and were by him presented to the Church of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 2:9-10

The true wisdom. Often in the Epistles there is a single word on which the whole discussion turns. In the letter to the Romans, it is "righteousness;" to the Colossians, it is "fulness;" to the Hebrews, it is "perfection." In the letter to the Corinthians, it is "wisdom." Those Greeks sought after wisdom. It was nothing to them that the gospel might relieve a troubled conscience or reform an unworthy life, if it did not correspond with their ideas of philosophy. But St. Paul had an answer... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 2:9-14

The revelation of the things of God. It may be that we have here a free quotation of Isaiah 64:4 . But whether a quotation or not, it expresses a principle true in every age. The great "things of God" have ever been beyond the reach of the unaided powers of man. What are these "things which God hath prepared for them that love him"? To apply this expression, as is sometimes done, merely to the glories and joys of the heaven of the future, is to narrow its meaning. Those heavenly things,... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Corinthians 2:9

But as it is written - This passage is quoted from Isaiah 64:4. It is not quoted literally; but the sense only is given. The words are found in the apocryphal books of Elijah; and Origen and Jerome supposed that Paul quoted from those books. But it is evident that Paul had in his eye the passage in Isaiah; and intended to apply it to his present purpose. These words are often applied by commentators and others to the future life, and are supposed by them to be descriptive of the state of the... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 Corinthians 2:9-11

1 Corinthians 2:9-11. But This ignorance fulfils what is written concerning the blessings of the Messiah’s kingdom; eye hath not seen, &c. No merely natural or unenlightened man hath either seen, heard, or known; the things which God hath prepared, saith the prophet, for them that love him “These words do not immediately respect the blessings of another world, but are spoken by the prophet of the gospel state, and the blessings then to be enjoyed by them that should love God,... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - 1 Corinthians 2:1-16

Worldly and spiritual wisdom (2:1-16)Paul reminds the Corinthians that when he was among them he did not try to impress them with any great show of learning. He preached the plain gospel without trying to make it attractive to any one class of people (2:1-2). During his time in Corinth, Paul had been physically weak and lacked his usual boldness. As a result his preaching was not at all impressive. Yet this was no great disappointment to him, because he wanted his converts to stand in the power... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - 1 Corinthians 2:9

is = has been. The quotation is from Isaiah 64:4 . App-107 . hath not seen = saw not. App-133 . nor ear heard = and ear heard not (Greek. ou) . neither have, &c . = and went not (Greek. ou) up. into = upon. App-104 . hath . Omit. love . App-135 . read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - 1 Corinthians 2:9

But as it is written, Things which eye saw not, and ear heard not, And which entered not into the heart of man, Whatsoever things God prepared for them that love him.These words are usually thought of as suggesting heaven and the glories of the future world; but Paul did not hesitate to apply them here to what God has already done for his children. "They certainly belong to the present state, and express the wondrous light, life and liberty which the gospel communicates."[24] "While it is true... read more

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