This paper critically engages with recent approaches to Paul’s discussion of pneuma and his use of philosophy in 1 Corinthians, focusing on the Stoic and middle Platonic project of recovering the wisdom of the primordial sages through the inspired interpretation of ancient mythological texts. I argue that this project, particularly as taken up by Philo and other representatives of the Hellenistic Jewish tradition, provides important comparanda for understanding Paul’s use of Jewish traditions and Greco-Roman philosophy in 1 Corinthians. This perspective offers valuable insights into the role of Hellenistic Jewish traditions in Corinth and in Paul’s letter.