1 Corinthians 2 14

1 Corinthians 2:14 kjv

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.

1 Corinthians 2:14 nkjv

But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

1 Corinthians 2:14 niv

The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit.

1 Corinthians 2:14 esv

The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.

1 Corinthians 2:14 nlt

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.

1 Corinthians 2 verses

1 Corinthians 2 14 Meaning

The natural person, also known as the soulish man, cannot understand or receive the things of the Spirit of God because they appear as foolishness to him. Such truths are apprehended not by human intellect or reasoning alone, but by a spiritual discernment given by God's Holy Spirit. Without the indwelling Spirit, a person lacks the capacity to truly comprehend or embrace divine spiritual realities.

1 Corinthians 2 14 Context

1 Corinthians chapter 2 is a crucial section where Paul contrasts human wisdom with the wisdom of God. He establishes that his proclamation of the Gospel did not rely on "eloquence or wisdom" (v. 1), but on "demonstration of the Spirit and of power" (v. 4). He argues that God's wisdom, though a "mystery" and "hidden" to the rulers of this age (v. 6-8), is profound and has been revealed by the Holy Spirit (v. 10). Paul uses the analogy of a person's spirit knowing their own thoughts to explain that only God's Spirit knows God's thoughts (v. 11). From this foundation of spiritual revelation, verse 14 presents the natural person's inherent inability to grasp these divine truths, setting the stage for the explanation of the "spiritual person" in verse 15 who "discerns all things." The immediate context highlights the conflict between worldly intellect, pride, and rhetoric prevalent in Corinthian society and the simple yet profound spiritual truth revealed by God. This verse directly addresses the intellectual arrogance that prevented many from accepting the Gospel message, portraying the Cross, which embodies God's wisdom, as foolishness to them.

1 Corinthians 2 14 Word analysis

• The natural person (ψυχικὸς / psychikos): Derived from "psychē" (soul). This refers to an unregenerate individual who lives by the dictates of their soul (mind, emotions, will) and physical senses, without the empowering or indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit. It describes humanity as operating on a purely human, un-renewed basis, reliant on their natural intellect and experience. This is distinct from "spiritual" (πνευματικὸς / pneumatikos), emphasizing the critical absence of divine Spirit in understanding God's things.
• does not receive (οὐ δέχεται / ou dechetai): The verb "dechomai" means to receive, accept, welcome, or embrace. It implies not just an intellectual inability to comprehend, but a volitional refusal or a lack of capacity to welcome something. The "ou" (not) makes it an absolute impossibility for the natural person to truly grasp and appropriate these spiritual truths into their inner being. They cannot accept it as valid or true.
• the things of the Spirit of God (τὰ τοῦ πνεύματος τοῦ Θεοῦ / ta tou pneumatos tou Theou): Refers to spiritual realities, truths, and divine revelations that originate from God's Holy Spirit. These are not merely intellectual concepts, but truths about God, His nature, His will, His redemptive plan, and His Kingdom, all of which transcend human understanding and must be Spirit-taught.
• for (γάρ / gar): A causal conjunction, indicating the reason or explanation for the previous statement.
• they are foolishness to him (μωρία γὰρ αὐτῷ ἐστιν / moria gar autō estin): The word "mōria" means foolishness, folly, or absurdity. This connects strongly to 1 Cor 1:18, where the message of the cross is also described as foolishness to those who are perishing. To the natural mind, divine truths—especially the Cross and the wisdom embodied in it—appear illogical, nonsensical, or simply absurd, not just intellectually challenging. This reflects a fundamental conflict between human reasoning and divine revelation.
• and he cannot (καὶ οὐ δύναται / kai ou dynatai): "Dynatai" means 'is able' or 'can.' The addition of "ou" (not) signifies an inherent incapacity or impossibility. The natural person is simply not able to understand these spiritual things. This isn't a mere unwillingness but a fundamental limitation of their natural faculties when encountering the divine.
• understand them (νοῆσαι / noēsai): To perceive, apprehend, grasp with the mind, or think about. While related to intellectual comprehension, in this context it goes beyond mere head knowledge to a true discernment and perception of truth.
• because they are spiritually discerned (ὅτι πνευματικῶς ἀνακρίνεται / hoti pneumatikōs anakrinetai): "Pneumatikōs" means spiritually, by the Spirit. "Anakrinetai" means to examine, scrutinize, judge, discern, or investigate. It implies a process of careful evaluation leading to proper judgment. Spiritual truths require a spiritual faculty—the Holy Spirit within a believer—to be truly comprehended and evaluated. They are not deciphered by human reason, logical analysis, or philosophical inquiry, but by divine illumination.

• "The natural person...does not receive...the things of the Spirit of God": This phrase highlights a fundamental spiritual divide. The "psychikos" operates on human logic and sensory data, unable to access or appreciate transcendent truths revealed by God's Spirit. This points to humanity's inherent spiritual blindness without divine intervention.
• "they are foolishness to him": This is not just a misunderstanding but an active contempt or dismissal of spiritual truth. The natural person finds the spiritual realm illogical and therefore contemptible, like someone who laughs at profound physics because they only understand basic arithmetic. This intellectual barrier stems from a lack of spiritual insight, viewing spiritual truth through an entirely inappropriate lens.
• "he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned": This two-part statement clearly defines the limitation and the requirement. The "cannot" is not about a lack of intelligence, but a lack of a necessary spiritual faculty (the indwelling Spirit). The spiritual nature of these truths dictates that only a spiritual means (the Holy Spirit acting within the spiritual man) can perceive them. It's akin to trying to see colors with ears – the wrong organ is being employed for the task.

1 Corinthians 2 14 Bonus section

This verse defines a critical epistemological boundary in Christian thought: spiritual truth is discerned by spiritual means, not through purely natural intellect. This means that merely higher education, philosophical acumen, or sharp reasoning abilities, while valuable in other spheres, do not inherently qualify one to comprehend divine mysteries. In fact, if not accompanied by a humble, receptive spirit led by God's Spirit, they can become hindrances. The "natural man" in Paul's usage isn't necessarily synonymous with a morally depraved person, but rather describes a human being whose understanding is unregenerate, lacking the Spirit's life-giving insight. This has significant implications for apologetics and evangelism: arguments, while helpful, ultimately cannot produce saving faith or spiritual understanding because those require a work of the Holy Spirit to open the eyes and heart to divine truth (cf. Acts 16:14, Luke 24:45). The ultimate conviction comes through spiritual discernment, which God initiates.

1 Corinthians 2 14 Commentary

1 Corinthians 2:14 powerfully articulates the chasm between human capacity and divine revelation. It asserts that spiritual truths, which originate from and are disclosed by the Holy Spirit, are fundamentally inaccessible to the "natural person"—one who relies solely on their inherent intellectual, emotional, and sensory faculties. To this individual, the wisdom of God appears utterly nonsensical, even offensive, embodying what Paul calls "foolishness." This isn't merely a matter of misunderstanding due to complexity; it's a profound inability to perceive and appropriate because the spiritual lens necessary for discernment is absent. Spiritual realities, unlike scientific or philosophical ones, demand spiritual eyes and a spiritual heart, provided only by the indwelling Spirit of God. Without this divine enablement, all attempts to comprehend God's deepest truths will be met with bewilderment and dismissal, as the very mode of their understanding is incompatible. The verse highlights humanity's need for divine intervention for genuine spiritual illumination.Examples: A non-believer reading the doctrine of the Trinity might find it illogical; a skeptic might deem the concept of resurrection absurd; someone valuing worldly power would see Christ's humility and suffering as weakness rather than redemptive strength.