Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary 1 Corinthians 2:16

"For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he should instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ." — 1 Corinthians 2:16 (ASV)

This verse confirms the thought of v.15 by quoting the LXX of Isa 40:13. The quotation in the form of a question casts doubt on the possibility of knowing God’s wisdom, but the final statement gives reassurance that Christians do know it. This explains v.15b — the person who has God’s Spirit is not subject to judgments by one who does not have the Spirit.

Paul introduces the “mind [GK 3808] of Christ” terminology in order to relate it to the OT expression he has just quoted—”the mind of the Lord.” The verse implies that we and all God’s people can understand spiritual truths and spiritual wisdom in a way similar to the way the Lord knows them. This verse is the climax of Paul’s argument about his preaching of God’s “foolishness” (the cross of Christ) without ostentation. Let the philosophers of Greece (cf. Acts 17:18, 32) and the Jews in their sign-seeking jeer and mock. They cannot really judge the message of Paul, who has the mind of Christ, because they do not have the Spirit of God and cannot judge spiritual truths.