New International Version
1 Corinthians 2:14
14The 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 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.
- 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.
- New Living Translation (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.
Context of 1 Corinthians 2:14
12What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us. 13This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words. 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. 15The person with the Spirit makes judgments about all things, but such a person is not subject to merely human judgments, 16for, “Who has known the mind of the Lord so as to instruct 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 down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.
- Jude 1:19These are the people who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit.
- Matthew 13:11He replied, “Because the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them.
- Matthew 16:23Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”
- John 3:3Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.”
- John 8:43Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say.
- John 10:26but you do not believe because you are not my sheep.
- John 12:37Even after Jesus had performed so many signs in their presence, they still would not believe in him.
- Romans 8:5Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.
- 1 Corinthians 2:12What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us.
- John 14:26But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.
- John 15:26“When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father—the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father—he will testify about me.
- John 16:8When he comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment:
- 1 Corinthians 1:18For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
- John 8:51Very truly I tell you, whoever obeys my word 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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