1 Corinthians 2:15

1 Corinthians 2:15 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.
• New International Version (NIV)The person with the Spirit makes judgments about all things, but such a person is not subject to merely human judgments,
• English Standard Version (ESV)The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one.
• New King James Version (NKJV)But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one.

Context of 1 Corinthians 2:15

13We also speak of these things, not in words taught or supplied by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining and interpreting spiritual thoughts with spiritual words [for those being guided by the Holy Spirit]. 14But the natural [unbelieving] man does not accept the things [the teachings and revelations] of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness [absurd and illogical] to him; and he is incapable of understanding them, because they are spiritually discerned and appreciated, [and he is unqualified to judge spiritual matters]. But the spiritual man [the spiritually mature Christian] judges all things [questions, examines and applies what the Holy Spirit reveals], yet is himself judged by no one [the unbeliever cannot judge and understand the believer’s spiritual nature]. 16For who has known the mind and purposes of the Lord, so as to instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ [to be guided by His thoughts and purposes].

1 Corinthians 2:15 word by word

ὁ δὲ πνευματικὸς ἀνακρίνει τὰ πάντα, αὐτὸς δὲ ὑπ᾽ οὐδενὸς ἀνακρίνεται.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Butδέde · thenG1161
• he thatὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• is spiritualπνευματικόςpneumatikos · spiritualG4152
• ·μένmen · on the other handG3303
• judgethἀνακρίνωanakrinō · to investigateG350
• all thingsπᾶςpas · allG3956
• he himselfαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• ofὑπόhupo · by/under: byG5259
• no manοὐδείςoudeis · noneG3762

Cross-references for 1 Corinthians 2:15

• 1 Corinthians 3:1However, brothers and sisters, I could not talk to you as to spiritual people, but [only] as to worldly people [dominated by human nature], mere infants [in the new life] in Christ!
• 1 Corinthians 14:37If anyone thinks and claims that he is a prophet [a true spokesman for God] or spiritually astute [filled with and energized by the Holy Spirit], let him recognize that the things which I write to you are the Lord’s commandment.
• Galatians 6:1Brothers, if anyone is caught in any sin, you who are spiritual [that is, you who are responsive to the guidance of the Spirit] are to restore such a person in a spirit of gentleness [not with a sense of superiority or self-righteousness], keeping a watchful eye on yourself, so that you are not tempted as well.
• Colossians 1:9For this reason, since the day we heard about it, we have not stopped praying for you, asking [specifically] that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom [with insight into His purposes], and in understanding [of spiritual things],
• 2 Samuel 14:17Then your maidservant said, ‘Please let the word of my lord the king be comforting, for my lord the king is as the angel of God to discern good and evil. May the Lord your God be with you.’ ”
• 1 Kings 3:9So give Your servant an understanding mind and a hearing heart [with which] to judge Your people, so that I may discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge and rule this great people of Yours?”
• Psalms 25:14The secret [of the wise counsel] of the Lord is for those who fear Him, And He will let them know His covenant and reveal to them [through His word] its [deep, inner] meaning.
• Proverbs 28:5Evil men do not understand justice, But they who long for and seek the Lord understand it fully.
• Ecclesiastes 8:5Whoever keeps and observes a royal command will experience neither trouble nor misery; For a wise heart will know the proper time and [appropriate] procedure.
• John 7:17If anyone is willing to do His will, he will know whether the teaching is of God or whether I speak on My own accord and by My own authority.
• Ephesians 4:13until we all reach oneness in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God, [growing spiritually] to become a mature believer, reaching to the measure of the fullness of Christ [manifesting His spiritual completeness and exercising our spiritual gifts in unity].
• Philippians 1:10so that you may learn to recognize and treasure what is excellent [identifying the best, and distinguishing moral differences], and that you may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ [actually living lives that lead others away from sin];
• 1 Thessalonians 5:21But test all things carefully [so you can recognize what is good]. Hold firmly to that which is good.
• Hebrews 5:14But solid food is for the [spiritually] mature, whose senses are trained by practice to distinguish between what is morally good and what is evil.
• 1 John 4:1Beloved, do not believe every spirit [speaking through a self-proclaimed prophet]; instead test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets and teachers have gone out into the world.
• 1 Corinthians 4:5So do not go on passing judgment before the appointed time, but wait until the Lord comes, for He will both bring to light the [secret] things that are hidden in darkness and disclose the motives of the hearts. Then each one’s praise will come from God.

Commentaries on 1 Corinthians 2:15

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 15But he that is spiritual judgeth all things - He who has the mind of Christ discerns and judges of all things spiritual: yet he himself is not discerned by the mere animal man. Some suppose that the word should be understood thus: He examines, scrutinizes, convinces, reproves, which it appears to mean in 1 Corinthians 14:24; and they read the verse thus: The spiritual man - the well-taught Christian, convinces, i.e. can easily convict, all men, (…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 15But 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…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 10-16Verses 10-16 God has revealed true wisdom to us by his Spirit. Here is a proof of the Divine authority of the Holy Scriptures, 2Pe 1:21. In proof of the Divinity of the Holy Ghost, observe, that he knows all things, and he searches all things, even the deep things of God. No one can know the things of God, but his Holy Spirit, who is one with the Father and the Son, and who makes known Divine mysteries to his church. This is most clear testimony, both to…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 15The spiritual man: Those with the Spirit have a true understanding of divine revelation.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1515. He that is spiritual--literally, "the spiritual (man)." In 1Co 2:14, it is "A [not 'the,' as English Version] natural man." The spiritual is the man distinguished above his fellow men, as he in whom the Spirit rules. In the unregenerate, the spirit which ought to be the organ of the Holy Spirit (and which is so in the regenerate), is overridden by the animal soul, and is in abeyance, so that such a one is never called "spiritual." judgeth all…Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Corinthians 2:15

• Blindness
• Regeneration
• Wisdom

In the dictionaries

• Corinthians, First Epistle to the
• Judge
• Lord
• Mystery
• Spiritually
• Testimony
• Wisdom
• Church
• Corinthians, First Epistle to the
• Enlighten

Commentaries on 1 Corinthians 2

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings