<p>2:7<i>&nbsp;But we speak God's wisdom in a mystery</i>- Paul doesn't mean that he has shrouded the simple message of the cross in &quot;a mystery&quot;. For he has spoken of how his preaching is of the cross of Christ, stripped of literally anything else (:2). He means that the message of God's wisdom, which is Christ crucified (1:24), is so simple that it is received as a mystery by the wise of this world and indeed by all those who do not believe it.</p><p><i>Even that which was hidden, which God foreordained before the ages for our glory- </i>The appeal of the cross is &quot;hidden&quot; in that the 'wise' won't see it because they choose not to believe it. The allusion is surely to the usage of the same word in the Lord's teaching that the things of the Gospel had been 'hidden' from the wise, and revealed to babes (Mt. 11:25). 1 Cor. 2:6-9 stresses how the early believers possessed a truth which nobody else apart from them could know. Whilst this feature of true Christianity led into the arrogance and pride which eventually doomed the early church, when and whilst used properly, it bound them even closer together. Nikolaus Walter observes that the first century generally &ldquo;did not experience religion as a binding force that was capable of determining everyday reality by offering support, setting norms, and forming community&rdquo;. And yet the Truth of Christ enabled just such things to occur. In this, as today, the example of the community is the ultimate proof that the doctrine of Christ which we teach is indeed the Truth and of itself demands conversion.&nbsp;</p>