how we think

Verse 9 in this passage is often quoted as a way of saying we can know or fathom what God has in store for us.

But read this section from Paul's first letter to the follow of Jesus in Corinth, follow his thinking, as he reaches a pretty astounding conclusion by verse 16.

It took me a long while to figure out that this passage isn't about being clueless.

Somebody correct me if I'm wrong, but the power statement in verse 16 says something pretty strongly about what we are able to know.

Just read it & tell me what you think.

1 Corinthians 2

9 That is what the Scriptures mean when they say,

"No eye has seen, no ear has heard,
  and no mind has imagined
what God has prepared for those who love him."

(dan note: Paul is quoting Isaiah 64:4 here)

  10 But it was to us that God revealed these things by his Spirit.

For his Spirit searches out everything and shows us God's deep secrets.

11 No one can know a person's thoughts except that person's own spirit,

and no one can know God's thoughts except God's own Spirit.

12 And we have received God's Spirit (not the world's spirit),

so we can know the wonderful things God has freely given us.

  13 When we tell you these things, we do not use words that come from human wisdom.

Instead, we speak words given to us by the Spirit,

using the Spirit's words to explain spiritual truths.

14 But people who aren't spiritual can't receive these truths from God's Spirit.

It all sounds foolish to them and they can't understand it,

for only those who are spiritual can understand what the Spirit means.

15 Those who are spiritual can evaluate all things, but they themselves cannot be evaluated by others.

16 For,

"Who can know the LORD's thoughts?
  Who knows enough to teach him?"

(dan note: Paul is quoting Isaiah 40:13 here.)

But we understand these things, for we have the mind of Christ.