1 Corinthians 2 15

1 Corinthians 2:15 kjv

But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.

1 Corinthians 2:15 nkjv

But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one.

1 Corinthians 2:15 niv

The person with the Spirit makes judgments about all things, but such a person is not subject to merely human judgments,

1 Corinthians 2:15 esv

The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one.

1 Corinthians 2:15 nlt

Those who are spiritual can evaluate all things, but they themselves cannot be evaluated by others.

1 Corinthians 2 verses

1 Corinthians 2 15 Meaning

The spiritual person, empowered and led by the Holy Spirit, possesses the capacity to rightly discern, understand, and evaluate all matters that pertain to truth, life, and the things of God. This person understands the principles, motivations, and spiritual realities behind events and teachings. Conversely, this spiritual individual cannot be rightly judged or understood by those who lack the indwelling Holy Spirit, as their perspectives are fundamentally divergent.

1 Corinthians 2 15 Context

1 Corinthians 2:15 stands as the concluding statement of Paul's profound discourse contrasting worldly wisdom with divine wisdom, which he began in chapter 1. The immediate context of verses 1-16 (and chapter 2 in particular) emphasizes that Paul's preaching was not based on human eloquence or persuasive philosophy, which the Corinthians esteemed, but on the power and revelation of the Holy Spirit (v. 4). He argues that God's wisdom, hidden from the "rulers of this age" (v. 6-8), is revealed by the Spirit to believers (v. 9-10). Paul uses an analogy of a person's spirit knowing their own thoughts to explain that only God's Spirit knows God's thoughts (v. 11), and believers have received this Spirit to understand God's gifts (v. 12). He distinguishes sharply between the "natural man" (ψυχικὸς, psychikos), who lacks the Spirit and finds spiritual truths foolish (v. 14), and the "spiritual man" (πνευματικὸς, pneumatikos) of verse 15, who is empowered to discern all spiritual matters. Historically, Corinth was a city steeped in intellectualism and various philosophies, making Paul's argument a direct challenge to their cultural values and a call to embrace God's Spirit as the source of true wisdom and understanding.

1 Corinthians 2 15 Word analysis

• The spiritual man (ὁ δὲ πνευματικὸς, ho de pneumatikos): This phrase stands in direct contrast to "the natural man" (ψυχικὸς, psychikos) described in the preceding verse (1 Cor 2:14). Pneumatikos derives from pneuma, meaning "spirit." It designates a person who is born of the Spirit, indwelt by the Holy Spirit, guided by the Spirit, and whose thinking and understanding are oriented towards divine revelation rather than mere human reason, worldly philosophies, or natural instincts. It signifies a person who has embraced the revelation of Christ by faith and possesses the divine enabling to grasp spiritual realities.
• judges (ἀνακρίνει, anakrinei): This crucial Greek verb does not primarily mean to condemn, but to "examine," "scrutinize," "discern," "evaluate," or "investigate thoroughly." It implies a careful, penetrating assessment. In ancient Greek legal contexts, anakrisis was the preliminary judicial examination to prepare for a trial. The spiritual man is not passing definitive judgment in the sense of condemnation over all things but possesses the Spirit-given capacity to correctly analyze, understand, and approve or disapprove of ideas, actions, and spiritual teachings based on God's truth. This discernment goes beyond superficial appearances to grasp the essence of matters.
• all things (πάντα, panta): The scope here is comprehensive, but contextually, it refers to "all things spiritual" or "all things pertaining to the life of faith and the kingdom of God." It implies the spiritual man's capacity to understand and rightly assess Christian doctrine, moral dilemmas, the motivations behind actions, and the genuine nature of spiritual experiences. It does not mean omniscience or expertise in every worldly field but a divinely enabled ability to navigate life and truth from a spiritual perspective.
• yet he himself (αὐτὸς δὲ, autos de): The addition of autos ("he himself") emphasizes the spiritual man as the subject being evaluated. The particle de indicates a contrast, shifting from the spiritual man's action (judging others/things) to his status concerning judgment by others.
• is rightly judged by no one (ὑπʼ οὐδενὸς ἀνακρίνεται, hyp' oudenous anakrinetai): This is the passive voice of anakrinei. The phrase "by no one" explicitly refers back to "the natural man" mentioned in verse 14. Because the natural man lacks the Spirit of God and finds spiritual things foolish, he fundamentally lacks the capacity to truly understand, correctly evaluate, or pass valid spiritual judgment on the spiritual man, his spiritual experiences, his Spirit-led decisions, or the truths he grasps. This does not mean the spiritual person is above all accountability or human correction (e.g., from other spiritual believers) but rather that non-spiritual, worldly criteria are inadequate to truly assess their Spirit-led life. Their ultimate judge is God Himself. The word "rightly" often found in translations is an accurate interpretive addition, as the natural man’s judgment is inherently flawed.

• "The spiritual man judges all things": This highlights the enablement of the Holy Spirit, granting believers the power to comprehend and discern divine truths. It contrasts sharply with the limitations of human wisdom alone. This capability is not intellectual pride but a gift from God.
• "yet he himself is rightly judged by no one": This underscores the significant divide between spiritual and unspiritual discernment. The unsaved world lacks the framework and understanding to truly grasp the spiritual realities of a believer's life, motivations, or understanding. Therefore, their assessment of the spiritual person is inherently flawed or incomplete, from a divine perspective.

1 Corinthians 2 15 Bonus section

This verse implies the concept of "spiritual maturity." While all believers receive the Spirit, growth in Christ enables a more consistent and profound exercise of this discerning ability. It's a progressive skill that deepens with study of God's Word and prayer, allowing the Spirit to further illuminate truth. Misinterpreting this verse as an absolute immunity to all criticism is a pitfall; a spiritual person is still accountable to God and, for practical matters, can receive valid feedback or correction from other spiritual individuals or communal biblical teaching. The primary thrust here is the incapacity of the unregenerate mind to truly assess spiritual realities. This understanding liberates believers from being swayed or unsettled by worldly opinions and strengthens their reliance on divine wisdom above human applause or critique. It emphasizes a unique spiritual worldview, given by God, which allows for evaluating and seeing through the pretenses of human wisdom and false teachings.

1 Corinthians 2 15 Commentary

1 Corinthians 2:15 succinctly describes the unique capacity and position of the believer indwelt by the Holy Spirit. Paul establishes a clear demarcation: those without the Spirit cannot comprehend God's truth, while those with the Spirit can. The "spiritual man" is equipped by divine revelation, not human intellect, to examine and rightly discern all matters relevant to faith and conduct. This discerning ability, sourced in the Holy Spirit, allows them to evaluate the world's wisdom, philosophies, and even internal church issues from God's perspective. Consequently, the spiritual person exists on a different plane of understanding than the natural person, making true reciprocal judgment impossible. The natural man cannot rightly assess or "anakrinei" the spiritual man, simply because he lacks the essential framework – the Holy Spirit – through which spiritual realities are grasped. This verse offers encouragement to believers facing criticism from a world that misunderstands them and underscores the authority and guidance available through the indwelling Spirit. It challenges believers to cultivate a Spirit-led life, relying on God's wisdom, and not to seek validation or understanding from those who are spiritually unperceptive. This insight cultivates humility in the spiritual man, acknowledging the source of his discernment is divine, not his own cleverness.