Unveiling the Mystery: Paul's Wisdom in 1 Corinthians 2:6-7

The Apostle Paul’s discourse on wisdom in 1 Corinthians 2:6-7 has long intrigued scholars and theologians. This passage delves into the profound and hidden wisdom of God, presenting it "in a mystery" (ἐν μυστηρίῳ). However, interpreting what Paul means by "in a mystery" is not straightforward and raises significant syntactical and theological questions.

The Syntactical Ambiguity

The phrase in question appears as follows:

ἀλλὰ λαλοῦμεν θεοῦ σοφίαν ἐν μυστηρίῳ τὴν ἀποκεκρυμμένην

This construction is syntactically complex and can be translated in multiple ways depending on how "in a mystery" (ἐν μυστηρίῳ) is understood to function within the sentence. Three main interpretations are possible:

1. Adverbial Modification of "We Speak":
   • "We speak in the mystery of the hidden wisdom of God."
2. Adjectival Modification of "Wisdom":
   • "We speak of the mysterious/secret wisdom of God that has been hidden."
3. Adverbial Modification of "Has Been Hidden":
   • "We speak of the wisdom of God that has been hidden in the mystery."

The Scholarly Debate

Commentators generally agree that internal grammatical reasons alone are insufficient to definitively resolve this ambiguity. T.J. Lang, in his detailed analysis, notes that "the question cannot be settled on internal grammatical grounds" (Lang 2016: 69, 88). Most scholars currently favor the adjectival interpretation, seeing "in a mystery" as modifying "the wisdom of God." This choice often stems from theological concerns rather than purely grammatical ones.

For instance, Gordon D. Fee initially endorsed the New International Version’s (NIV) translation in his 1987 commentary on 1 Corinthians, motivated by a theological perspective: "One cannot be certain whether this phrase modifies 'wisdom' adjectivally (hence the NIV’s 'secret wisdom') or the verb 'we speak' adverbially. The former seems preferable. God’s wisdom is not an esoteric teaching, spoken of in secret" (Fee 1987: 104-105, cited in Lang 2016: 71).

The Theological Implications

The interpretation of "in a mystery" holds significant theological implications. Reading it as an adjectival modifier suggests that Paul is emphasizing the secretive and hidden nature of God’s wisdom itself. This interpretation aligns with a broader theological stance that God’s wisdom is profound and inaccessible through human means, revealed only through divine insight.

Conversely, interpreting "in a mystery" adverbially, as modifying "we speak," could imply that Paul’s manner of communicating this wisdom is esoteric, reserved for the spiritually mature. Such a reading would parallel the practices of mystery cults in the ancient world, which imparted secret knowledge to initiates. This notion, however, has been resisted by many scholars who argue that Paul's teachings were meant to be more openly accessible, though profound.

Conclusion

The ambiguity of 1 Corinthians 2:6-7 invites readers into a deeper contemplation of Paul’s message about the wisdom of God. Whether "in a mystery" is understood to modify the act of speaking or the nature of wisdom itself, Paul’s emphasis on the hidden and divine nature of this wisdom remains clear. This passage challenges us to consider the profound depths of God’s revelation, accessible not through human wisdom but through the Spirit.

References

This analysis draws upon the insights of various scholars, including T.J. Lang and Gordon D. Fee. For a more comprehensive exploration of the syntactical and theological dimensions of this passage, see Scott Brown’s detailed study in his paper "L'esoterismo in Paolo: La sapienza nascosta di 1 Cor 2,6-3,4, Parte prima" available here.