1 Corinthians 2:13-15 ASV

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 2:14-15

The natural and the spiritual man. This is not a common division of men, or one that can be recognized from a worldly point of view. The world knows learned men and ignorant men, rich men and poor men, but not natural men and spiritual men. This distinction is wholly made from the Christian standpoint, but it becomes the all important one, in the presence of which all merely worldly classifications of men become insignificant. Modern theories of man's nature may be reviewed. Some regard... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 2:14-16

Natural man and spiritual man. The natural man, who had not been forgotten by St. Paul in the first chapter, now comes under closer inspection. We can see him from the point of view occupied in the second chapter What is said of him? He "receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." Nature is represented here as very different from grace, and the difference has the breadth of contrast.... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 2:15

Judgeth all things . If he can judge the higher, lie can of course judge the lower. Being spiritual, he becomes intellectual also, as well as more than intellectual. He can see into the difference between the dream and the reality; he can no longer take the shadow for the substance. He can not only decide about ordinary matters, but can also "discriminate the transcendent,'' i.e. see that which is best even in different alternatives of good. "The secret of the Lord is with them that... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 2:15

The judging faculty. "He that is spiritual" is he in whom the Spirit of God dwells, pervading his spirit with a light and quickening it to a life above that of nature. This higher spirit life has many marks of distinction. It is one of these to which the apostle here gives prominence. Two things are affirmed of the spiritual man— I. HIS POWER TO JUDGE . The attitude of mind suggested is an inquiring, critical, testing attitude—an attitude in which it holds its faith in abeyance... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Corinthians 2:13

Which things we speak - Which great, and glorious, and certain truths, we, the apostles, preach and explain.Not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth - Not such as human philosophy or eloquence would dictate. They do not have their origin in the devices of human wisdom, and they are not expressed in such words of dazzling and attractive rhetoric as would be employed by those who pride themselves on the wisdom of this world.But which the Holy Ghost teacheth - That is, in the words which the... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Corinthians 2:14

But the natural man - ψυχικὸς, δὲ ἄνθρωπος psuchikos de anthrōpos. The word “natural” here stands opposed evidently to “spiritual.” It denotes those who are governed and influenced by the natural instincts; the animal passions and desires, in opposition to those who are influenced by the Spirit of God. It refers to unregenerate people; but it has also not merely the idea of their being unregenerate, but that of their being influenced by the animal passions or desires. See the note on 1... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Corinthians 2:15

But he that is spiritual - The man who is enlightened by the Holy Spirit in contradistinction from him who is under the influence of the senses only.Judgeth - Greek: “Discerns.” (margin); the same word as in the previous verse. It means that the spiritual man has a discernment of these truths in regard to which the sensual man was blind and ignorant.All things - Not absolutely all things; or not that he is omniscient; but that he has a view of those things to which the apostle had reference -... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 Corinthians 2:12-13

1 Corinthians 2:12-13. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world Which suggests worldly wisdom; the spirit that is in worldly, carnal people, and which guides and governs them; a spirit which is earthly, sensual, and devilish. This spirit is not, properly speaking, received, for the carnal and unregenerate always had it; but true believers properly receive the Spirit of God, which before they had not. That we might know Might discern, understand, form just ideas of, and be... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 Corinthians 2:14

1 Corinthians 2:14. But the natural man The man who has only the powers of nature, the faculties derived from Adam, but not a supernatural principle of saving grace; who has a soul in his body, (as the word ψυχικος , derived from ψυχη , a soul, implies,) but no divine inspiration in that soul; or who is not truly enlightened and renewed by the Word and Spirit of God, and therefore has no other way of obtaining knowledge but by his senses and natural understanding; receiveth not Does not... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 Corinthians 2:15-16

1 Corinthians 2:15-16. But he that is spiritual Whose mind is enlightened, and his heart renewed by the Spirit of God; judgeth Or rather discerneth; all things Namely, all the things of God whereof we have been speaking; yet he himself is judged Is discerned; by no man, by no natural men; they neither understand what he is, nor what he says, while, perhaps, they are very forward and confident in their censures of him: he remains, says Doddridge, like a man endowed with sight among... read more

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 2:14-15

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 2:14-16

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 2:15

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 2:15

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Corinthians 2:13

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Corinthians 2:14

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Corinthians 2:15

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 Corinthians 2:12-13

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 Corinthians 2:14

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 Corinthians 2:15-16

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