1 CORINTHIANS 2:14 — KING JAMES VERSION 0
“But the natural man 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.”
The person without the Spirit does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to them, and they cannot understand them because they are discerned only by the Spirit — 'the person without the Spirit' (psychikos anthrōpos, 'natural/soulish person') cannot 'accept' (dechestha) spiritual truths; they appear 'foolish' (mōria). The barrier is not intellectual lack but ontological: spiritual realities are 'discerned by the Spirit' (pneumatikōs anakrinetai), requiring the Spirit's indwelling presence. Knowledge of God is not an intellectual achievement but a gift of the Spirit.
Church Fathers on 1 Corinthians 2:14
“The natural man receives not the things of the Spirit.” It is necessary then to lay it aside first. “What then,” some man will say; “is the wisdom from without stigmatized? And yet it is the work of God.” How is this clear? Since He made it not, but it was an invention of yours. For in this place he calls by the term “wisdom” curious research and superfluous elegance of words. But should any one say that he means the human understanding; even in this sense the fault is…
Nicene & Post-Nicene / Ante-Nicene Fathers translations · public domain
COMMUNITY REFLECTIONS
Publish a reflection on this verse
No reflections on this verse yet. Be the first to write one!