Metaphysical Bible Interpretation of I Corinthians Chapter 2
Metaphysically Interpreting I Corinthians 2:1-5
2:1And I, brethren, when I came unto you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God. 2:2For I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. 2:3And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. 2:4And my speech and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: 2:5that your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.
November 26, 1933: I Cor. 2:1-6
Concerning his own spiritual work, of what does Paul remind them? He reminds them that he himself, when he first came among them, had made no display of worldly wisdom or oratory, but had determined to rely entirely on the power of the Christ consciousness to save men by crossing out all the counter-currents of personality.
Is the intellect ever a satisfactory life? No. The intellect, no matter how well trained it may be, is not an adequate guide to a satisfying life. In fact intellectual acumen, if given full scope, renders man powerless to hold himself in the Christ mind.
What alone can lift man out of his distresses and confusions? The recognition of the Most High, and therefore higher than man, alone suffices to lift men out of their distresses and confusions. With his mind stayed on the power of God, a man can stand fast through whatever comes, and successfully handle every problem.
May 7, 1939: I Cor. 2:1-5
From what does the word of Truth derive its power to convince and change man? From the Christ consciousness. “For I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.”
How did Paul apply the teaching of the Crucifixion to himself? Paul “crossed out” weakness, fear, and “much trembling” by dropping all personality out of mind and being conscious of the Christ only. In this way he demonstrated the power of the Holy Spirit.
Metaphysically Interpreting I Corinthians 2:6-16
2:6We speak wisdom, however, among them that are fullgrown: yet a wisdom not of this world, nor of the rulers of this world, who are coming to nought: 2:7but we speak God's wisdom in a mystery, even the wisdom that hath been hidden, which God foreordained before the worlds unto our glory: 2:8which none of the rulers of this world hath known: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory: 2:9but 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.2:10But unto us God revealed them through the Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. 2:11For who among men knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of the man, which is in him? even so the things of God none knoweth, save the Spirit of God. 2:12But we received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is from God; that we might know the things that were freely given to us of God. 2:13Which things also we speak, not in words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Spirit teacheth; combining spiritual things with spiritual words.
2:14Now the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him; and he cannot know them, because they are spiritually judged. 2:15But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, and he himself is judged of no man.
2:16For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he should instruct him?
September 9, 1917: I Cor. 2:16
What is the consciousness? The consciousness is the entire realm of mentality.
What is a “state of consciousness”? A state of consciousness is a certain phase of mind built up through thinking of some particular idea.
How does man become conscious of Divine Mind? Man becomes conscious of Divine Mind through appropriating or thinking upon the ideas of Divine Mind.
How is the original Good manifested? The original Good of the One Great Mind is constantly expressing itself through man as he cooperates with Mind Principle through thinking about it.
What are two phases of mind? Two great phases of mind are cause and effect.
What quality of mind is essential in dealing with causes? The development of Understanding is essential in knowing how to unfold the consciousness in an orderly, definite manner.
What are the three departments of man's consciousness and how do they function? The three departments of man's consciousness are intellect, emotion and physical. The intellect functions through the head, the emotions through the heart and the physical through the body.
How does man merge his consciousness with the Absolute? Man merges his consciousness with the Absolute through harmonizing all his ideas with the unlimited ideas of the Christ Mind. This is accomplished through understanding Divine Mind and its Laws.
Transcribed by Lloyd Kinder on 11-08-2013
