New English Translation
1 Corinthians 2:14
14The unbeliever does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him. And he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.
1 Corinthians 2:14 in other versions
- King James Version (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.
- New International Version (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.
- English Standard Version (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.
- New King James Version (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.
Context of 1 Corinthians 2:14
12Now we have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things that are freely given to us by God. 13And we speak about these things, not with words taught us by human wisdom, but with those taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual things to spiritual people. The unbeliever does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him. And he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. 15The one who is spiritual discerns all things, yet he himself is understood by no one. 16For who has known the mind of the Lord, so as to advise him? But we have the mind of Christ.
Read all of 1 Corinthians 21 Corinthians 2:14 word by word
ψυχικὸς δὲ ἄνθρωπος οὐ δέχεται τὰ τοῦ πνεύματος τοῦ θεοῦ, μωρία γὰρ αὐτῷ ἐστιν, καὶ οὐ δύναται γνῶναι, ὅτι πνευματικῶς ἀνακρίνεται.Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Butδέde · thenG1161
- the naturalψυχικόςpsuchikos · naturalG5591
- manἄνθρωποςanthrōpos · a humanG444
- receivethδέχομαιdechomai · to receiveG1209
- notοὐou · noG3756
- the thingsὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- of the Spiritπνεῦμαpneuma · spirit/breath: spiritG4151
- of Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
- forγάρgar · forG1063
- they areεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
- foolishnessμωρίαmōria · foolishnessG3472
- unto himαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
- ·καίkai · andG2532
- canδύναμαιdunamai · be ableG1410
- he knowγινώσκωginōskō · to knowG1097
- becauseὅτιhoti · that/since: sinceG3754
- they are spirituallyπνευματικῶςpneumatikōs · spirituallyG4153
- discernedἀνακρίνωanakrinō · to investigateG350
Cross-references for 1 Corinthians 2:14
- 1 Corinthians 15:44it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.
- James 3:15Such wisdom does not come from above but is earthly, natural, demonic.
- Jude 1:19These people are divisive, worldly, devoid of the Spirit.
- Matthew 13:11He replied, “You have been given the opportunity to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but they have not.
- Matthew 16:23But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me, because you are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but on man’s.”
- John 3:3Jesus replied, “I tell you the solemn truth, unless a person is born from above, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
- John 8:43Why don’t you understand what I am saying? It is because you cannot accept my teaching.
- John 10:26But you refuse to believe because you are not my sheep.
- John 12:37Although Jesus had performed so many miraculous signs before them, they still refused to believe in him,
- Romans 8:5For those who live according to the flesh have their outlook shaped by the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit have their outlook shaped by the things of the Spirit.
- 1 Corinthians 2:12Now we have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things that are freely given to us by God.
- John 14:26But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and will cause you to remember everything I said to you.
- John 15:26When the Advocate comes, whom I will send you from the Father – the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father – he will testify about me,
- John 16:8And when he comes, he will prove the world wrong concerning sin and righteousness and judgment –
- 1 Corinthians 1:18For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
- John 8:51I tell you the solemn truth, if anyone obeys my teaching, he will never see death.”
Commentaries on 1 Corinthians 2:14
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 14But the natural man - , The animal man - the man who is in a mere state of nature, and lives under the influence of his animal passions; for the word , which we often translate soul, means the lower and sensitive part of man, in opposition to , the understanding or rational part. The Latins use anima to signify these lower passions; and animus to signify the higher. The person in question is not only one who either has had no spiritual teaching, or has…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 14But the natural man - ̀ , ̀ ̓́ psuchikos de anthrōposThe 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…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. 14The natural man: Unbelievers have minds that are closed to the Spirit. They live in the natural world and see life only through physical eyes (see 2 Corinthians 4:4). They cannot understand the importance of the good news about Jesus, as it is mainly a spiritual message.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1414. natural man--literally, "a man of animal soul." As contrasted with the spiritual man, he is governed by the animal soul, which overbears his spirit, which latter is without the Spirit of God (Jude 19). So the animal (English Version, "natural") body, or body led by the lower animal nature (including both the mere human fallen reason and heart), is contrasted with the Spirit-quickened body (1Co 15:44-46). The carnal man (the man led by bodily…Read the comment
Topics related to 1 Corinthians 2:14
In the dictionaries
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
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