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1 Corinthians 2 · a question people ask

"the rulers of this world who are coming to nothing" (2:6). Who are they?

In the text

The chapter says three things of them. They are "of this world" and "coming to nothing" (2:6), and none of them has known God's wisdom: "which none of the rulers of this world has known. For had they known it, they wouldn’t have crucified the Lord of glory." (2:8). It names none of them, and these notes don't either.

The verses

“We speak wisdom, however, among those who are full grown, yet a wisdom not of this world nor of the rulers of this world who are coming to nothing. But we speak God’s wisdom in a mystery, the wisdom that has been hidden, which God foreordained before the worlds for our glory, which none of the rulers of this world has known. For had they known it, they wouldn’t have crucified the Lord of glory.”
1 Corinthians 2:6-8 · World English Bible

From Favor's study of 1 Corinthians 2

1 Corinthians 2: Jesus Christ and him crucified

The foolishness of 2:14 is the noun the letter used in "the word of the cross is foolishness" (1:18). And the chapter that says "For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified." (2:2) ends, "But we have Christ’s mind." (2:16).

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Last reviewed October 8, 2026. Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain. Every answer cites the verses it rests on. What we believe · All Bible questions