The strong But at the beginning of this verse indicates that Paul is returning to positive statements after a series of negative ones. Please see 1 Cor. 2.6 for comments on we impart. The contrast here is between the “human” wisdom of verse 5 and “God’s … wisdom” (Good News Bible).

Good News Bible‘s “The wisdom I” can be rendered as “This wisdom that I.”

The meaning of the word that Revised Standard Version translates secret may either refer to speaking in a mysterious way, or that God’s wisdom is (or was) itself secret. Revised Standard Version and Good News Bible follow this second interpretation. As we noted on verse 1 of this chapter, the “mystery” of the gospel is usually, for Paul, something that has been revealed. The “secret” is now an open secret, not because people have discovered it for themselves, but because God has revealed it. Translators should take care that the word chosen for secret is not too strong. Otherwise it will seem as if Paul is contradicting himself.

The tense of the verb suggests that the wisdom has been hidden in the past and is still hidden to some. The rest of the verse confirms this. In languages that do not commonly use the passive voice, the phrase hidden wisdom or “hidden from human beings” (Good News Bible) may be restructured as “that he has hidden from humanity.” However, Good News Bible‘s “from human beings” is not in the Greek text and may be too general. What Paul means is that the wisdom was hidden from previous generations, and also from those at the present time who are not “spiritually mature.” In this case one may use a more general statement and say “that he has kept hidden…” or “that he has not revealed previously.”

If translators follow Good News Bible‘s restructuring of this verse, it may be helpful to repeat the information “is the wisdom that he had” after the word “but” in the second half of this verse.

The verb that is translated decreed is used in the New Testament to refer to something that God decided or fixed as part of his eternal plan or purpose (see Acts 4.28; Rom 8.29-30; Eph 1.5, 11). The words God decreed may also be translated as “God decided” or “God set his heart (or, mind) to do.” Good News Bible‘s “chosen” is less exact.

For before the ages, see comments on 1 Cor. 2.6. Good News Bible brings out the meaning.

Glorification or “glory” (Good News Bible, New International Version, New Revised Standard Version, Revised English Bible), in English and some other languages, is a word that is seldom used outside church circles. Unfortunately, few modern translations can find a better word. Part of its meaning is “what Christians have to boast about” (see 1.29-31). More generally it means living so close to God or Christ that some of the wonder and power of God’s own life is shared with believers. This is the basis for Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch‘s translation: “Already, before God created the world, he formed a plan to give us a share in his glory. But he kept this plan hidden.” Translator’s New Testament has a detailed glossary note on “glory.”

In certain languages it will be helpful to translate this term as “honor.” The final sentence can then be restructured as “But God had already decided before he made the world that this wisdom would bring honor to us,” or “… cause us to receive honor.”

Quoted with permission from Ellingworth, Paul and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians, 2nd edition. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1985/1994. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .