Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary 1 Corinthians 2:8

"which none of the rulers of this world hath known: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory:" — 1 Corinthians 2:8 (ASV)

None of the earthly rulers understood such redemption relating to wisdom. By “rulers” Paul means the Sadducees, Pharisees, teachers of the law, and Herod Antipas, as well as the Romans represented by Pilate and his soldiers (Acts 4:25– 28). Otherwise, they would not have crucified “the Lord of glory” (cf. “King of glory” in Ps. 24:7-10; “God of glory” in Ps 29:3; Acts 7:2). This phrase describes Christ’s divinity, and Paul brings it together with Christ’s human nature (he was crucified in a real body on a hard, real cross), leading to the conclusion that the Son of God, incarnate in a human being, died on the cross (cf. Acts 20:28).