King James Version

What Does 1 Corinthians 2:5 Mean?

1 Corinthians 2:5 in the King James Version says “That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. stand: Gr. be” — study this verse from 1 Corinthians chapter 2 with commentary, cross-references, and original Greek word analysis.

“That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. stand: Gr. be”

1 Corinthians 2:5 · KJV

FaithWisdom

Context

3

And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.

4

And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: enticing: or, persuasible

5

That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. stand: Gr. be

6

Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought:

7

But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:

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Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. Paul reveals his methodological purpose: pistis (πίστις, "faith") must rest (ē, ᾖ, "might be/stand") on divine rather than human foundation. The term sophia anthrōpōn (σοφία ἀνθρώπων, "wisdom of men") encompasses all human intellectual systems, philosophical traditions, and rhetorical persuasion. Against this stands dynamis theou (δύναμις θεοῦ, "power of God")—the resurrection power that conquered death (Romans 1:4).

Faith grounded in human wisdom is fragile: philosophical fashions change, arguments get refuted, teachers fall. But faith resting on God's demonstrated power—supremely in Christ's resurrection—stands unshakable. This explains why apostolic preaching focused on eyewitness resurrection testimony (Acts 2:32, 3:15, 4:20). Paul's concern anticipates later Corinthian problems: when Christians trust impressive teachers rather than God's revealed truth, they become vulnerable to doctrinal error (see the "super-apostles" of 2 Corinthians 11:5).

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Historical & Cultural Context

The Corinthian church's later problems—divisions over teachers (1:12), denial of resurrection (15:12), tolerance of immorality (5:1-2)—all stemmed from trusting human reasoning over divine revelation. Corinth's philosophical culture encouraged evaluating messages by speaker eloquence rather than content. Paul's insistence on divine power as faith's foundation addressed this root issue. The contrast between wisdom and power reflects Hebrew thought: God's ways transcend human calculation (Isaiah 55:8-9).

Reflection Questions

  1. How can you audit whether your faith rests on God's power or on persuasive arguments you've heard?
  2. What happens to faith when it's based on a teacher's charisma and that teacher falls into scandal?
  3. Why must Christianity ultimately appeal to God's demonstrated power (especially resurrection) rather than philosophical coherence alone?

Original Language Analysis

Greek · 13 words
ἵνα1 of 13

“That”

G2443

in order that (denoting the purpose or the result)

ἡ2 of 13
G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

πίστις3 of 13

“faith”

G4102

persuasion, i.e., credence; moral conviction (of religious truth, or the truthfulness of god or a religious teacher), especially reliance upon christ

ὑμῶν4 of 13

“your”

G5216

of (from or concerning) you

μὴ5 of 13

“not”

G3361

(adverb) not, (conjunction) lest; also (as an interrogative implying a negative answer (whereas g3756 expects an affirmative one)) whether

ᾖ6 of 13

“should”

G5600

(may, might, can, could, would, should, must, etc.; also with g1487 and its comparative, as well as with other particles) be

ἐν7 of 13

“in”

G1722

"in," at, (up-)on, by, etc

σοφίᾳ8 of 13

“the wisdom”

G4678

wisdom (higher or lower, worldly or spiritual)

ἀνθρώπων9 of 13

“of men”

G444

man-faced, i.e., a human being

ἀλλ'10 of 13

“but”

G235

properly, other things, i.e., (adverbially) contrariwise (in many relations)

ἐν11 of 13

“in”

G1722

"in," at, (up-)on, by, etc

δυνάμει12 of 13

“the power”

G1411

force (literally or figuratively); specially, miraculous power (usually by implication, a miracle itself)

θεοῦ13 of 13

“of God”

G2316

a deity, especially (with g3588) the supreme divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; exceedingly (by hebraism)

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of 1 Corinthians. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

1 Corinthians 2:5 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to 1 Corinthians 2:5 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

2 Corinthians 4:72 Corinthians 12:92 Corinthians 6:71 Corinthians 1:17Acts 16:141 Corinthians 3:6

Test Your Knowledge

1 Corinthians 2 QuizTest your knowledge of this chapter1 Corinthians Book QuizComprehensive quiz for the entire book

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