John Calvin Commentary 1 Corinthians 2:7

"but we speak God`s wisdom in a mystery, [even] the [wisdom] that hath been hidden, which God foreordained before the worlds unto our glory:" — 1 Corinthians 2:7 (ASV)

The wisdom of God in a mystery. He assigns the reason why the doctrine of the gospel is not held in high esteem by the princes of this world—because it is involved in mysteries and is consequently hidden. For the gospel so far transcends the acuity of human intellect that, to whatever height those who are regarded as men of superior intellect may raise their view, they can never reach its elevated height.

Meanwhile, they despise its lowliness, as if it were lying at their feet. The consequence is that the more proudly they scorn it, the further they are from acquaintance with it—indeed, they are removed to so great a distance that they are prevented from even seeing it.

Which God has ordained. Since Paul had said that the gospel was a hidden thing, there was a danger that believers, on hearing this, might be dismayed by the difficulty and withdraw in despair. Accordingly, he meets this danger and declares that it had nevertheless been appointed to us, so that we might enjoy it.

For fear that anyone, I say, should consider that he has nothing to do with the hidden wisdom, or should imagine it to be unlawful to direct his eyes toward it, as being beyond human capacity, he teaches that it has been communicated to us according to the eternal counsel of God.

At the same time, he has something still further in view, for by an implied comparison he praises highly that grace which has been revealed by Christ’s advent and distinguishes us from our fathers, who lived under the law. On this point, I have spoken more fully in the end of the last chapter of Romans.

First of all then, he argues from what God had ordained; for if God has appointed nothing in vain, it follows that we will not lose anything by listening to the gospel which He has appointed for us, for He accommodates Himself to our capacity in addressing us. In accordance with this, Isaiah (Isaiah 45:19) says—

I have not spoken in a lurking place, or in a dark corner.
I have not in vain said to the seed of Jacob, Seek ye me.

Secondly, with the aim of rendering the gospel attractive and drawing us to a desire to know it, he draws an argument still further from the design that God had in view in giving it to us—for our glory. In this expression, too, he seems to draw a comparison between us and the fathers, our heavenly Father not having granted them that honor which He reserved for the advent of His Son.