Most evangelical Christians identify the author of 1 Corinthians 2:9 as the Apostle Paul. Below is a concise, evangelical-oriented overview explaining who Paul was, why evangelicals accept his authorship of 1 Corinthians, and how 2:9 fits into his theology and pastoral purpose.

Who Paul was (evangelical summary)
– Born Saul of Tarsus, a Jew and Roman citizen trained as a Pharisee under Gamaliel (Acts 22:3).
– Persecuted the early church until his dramatic conversion on the Damascus road (Acts 9), after which he became a committed follower and apostle of Jesus Christ.
– Called especially to bring the gospel to the Gentiles and planted many churches on missionary journeys.
– Authored several New Testament letters (epistles) that shaped Christian doctrine and practice; 1 Corinthians is one of the “undisputed” Pauline letters accepted by virtually all evangelical scholars.
– Tradition and the New Testament indicate he suffered for the gospel and ultimately was martyred (early church testimony).

Why evangelicals accept Paul as the author of 1 Corinthians
– Internal evidence: the letter’s opening identifies an apostle writing to the church in Corinth (1 Cor 1:1–2), and the letter contains personal details and autobiographical markers consistent with Paul’s life and ministry (e.g., travel plans, personal appeals, greetings).
– External evidence: early church fathers (Clement of Rome, Irenaeus, etc.) quote and treat 1 Corinthians as Pauline.
– Stylistic and theological consistency with Paul’s other letters (vocabulary, themes such as justification by faith, the cross, the Spirit, church order).
– Date/place: commonly dated to about AD 53–55, written from Ephesus during Paul’s third missionary journey—fits Paul’s known itinerary.

Context and theological meaning of 1 Corinthians 2:9 in Paul’s thought
– 1 Corinthians 2:9 (“…what God has prepared for those who love him…”) is part of a larger section contrasting human wisdom with God’s revealed wisdom (chs. 1–2). Paul argues that the deepest realities of God’s plan are not arrived at by human cleverness but by God’s revelation through the Spirit (1 Cor 2:10–16).
– Paul quotes/echoes the Old Testament (Isaiah and Psalms traditions)—evangelicals emphasize his use of Scripture as authoritative continuity between OT promises and NT fulfillment.
– The verse affirms an eschatological hope: God has prepared wonderful blessings beyond human imagination for believers. For Paul, these realities are known by the Spirit and centered on Christ (the crucified and risen Lord) and the future consummation for those who love God.
– The phrase “those who love him” underscores that the promise is grounded in the covenant relationship between God and his people—consistent with Pauline emphasis on faith and Christian devotion as marks of the redeemed.

Pastoral and practical implications (evangelical application)
– Assurance: believers can trust that God’s purposes and future blessings exceed human expectations.
– Dependence on the Spirit: understanding spiritual truth comes through the Holy Spirit, not merely human reasoning.
– Motivation for holiness and love: the promise is connected to loving God, which shapes Christian ethics and worship.
– Comfort in suffering: Paul often links present sufferings with future glory (cf. Romans 8), so 2:9 contributes to the hopeful perspective in hardship.

If you’d like, I can:
– Give the historical-critical background of 1 Corinthians with more scholarly detail.
– Walk through the immediate passage (1 Cor 2:6–16) verse by verse from an evangelical perspective.
– Provide sermon-style applications or illustrations based on 1 Cor 2:9.