1 corinthians 2:14 - Now the natural man doesn’t receive the things of God’s Spirit, for they are foolishness to him, and he can’t know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
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What does "1 corinthians 2:14" mean?
This verse from 1 Corinthians 2:14 is a key passage in understanding how Christians view the difference between those who are believers and those who are not. Let's break it down:
"Now the natural man...": This refers to a person who is living solely according to their human nature, without the influence or guidance of the Holy Spirit. They are driven by their senses, intellect, and desires, but not by a spiritual understanding. Some translations use the word "unsaved" or "unspiritual" here to make the meaning clearer.
"...doesn't receive the things of God's Spirit...": This means that the person without the Spirit is unable to grasp, accept, or appreciate the truths and realities that come from God's Spirit. This includes things like God's love, grace, forgiveness, purpose, and the teachings of the Bible.
"...for they are foolishness to him...": To the natural person, these spiritual truths seem nonsensical, irrational, or even absurd. They don't align with the way the natural person understands the world or how they think things should work. What God considers wise, the natural man often considers foolish.
"...and he can't know them...": This emphasizes the inability of the natural person to comprehend spiritual truths on their own. It's not just a matter of disagreeing with them; it's a fundamental inability to truly understand them.
"...because they are spiritually discerned.": This is the key reason why the natural person cannot understand these things. "Spiritually discerned" means that these truths can only be understood through the Holy Spirit. The Spirit gives believers the ability to see and understand these things in a way that is impossible for those who are not spiritually connected to God.
In essence, the verse is saying that without the help of the Holy Spirit, a person is unable to comprehend spiritual truths. It's like trying to understand a complex mathematical equation without having learned the necessary principles. The problem isn't the equation itself, but the lack of the right tools to understand it. In the same way, the natural person lacks the spiritual capacity to grasp the things of God.
This verse highlights the Christian belief that faith and spiritual understanding are gifts from God, enabled by the Holy Spirit. It emphasizes the transformative work of the Holy Spirit in the life of a believer, enabling them to see and understand things that were previously hidden or incomprehensible.
1 corinthians 2:14 - Now the natural man doesn’t receive the things of God’s Spirit, for they are foolishness to him, and he can’t know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
What does "1 corinthians 2:14" mean?
This verse from 1 Corinthians 2:14 is a key passage in understanding how Christians view the difference between those who are believers and those who are not. Let's break it down:
"Now the natural man...": This refers to a person who is living solely according to their human nature, without the influence or guidance of the Holy Spirit. They are driven by their senses, intellect, and desires, but not by a spiritual understanding. Some translations use the word "unsaved" or "unspiritual" here to make the meaning clearer.
"...doesn't receive the things of God's Spirit...": This means that the person without the Spirit is unable to grasp, accept, or appreciate the truths and realities that come from God's Spirit. This includes things like God's love, grace, forgiveness, purpose, and the teachings of the Bible.
"...for they are foolishness to him...": To the natural person, these spiritual truths seem nonsensical, irrational, or even absurd. They don't align with the way the natural person understands the world or how they think things should work. What God considers wise, the natural man often considers foolish.
"...and he can't know them...": This emphasizes the inability of the natural person to comprehend spiritual truths on their own. It's not just a matter of disagreeing with them; it's a fundamental inability to truly understand them.
"...because they are spiritually discerned.": This is the key reason why the natural person cannot understand these things. "Spiritually discerned" means that these truths can only be understood through the Holy Spirit. The Spirit gives believers the ability to see and understand these things in a way that is impossible for those who are not spiritually connected to God.
In essence, the verse is saying that without the help of the Holy Spirit, a person is unable to comprehend spiritual truths. It's like trying to understand a complex mathematical equation without having learned the necessary principles. The problem isn't the equation itself, but the lack of the right tools to understand it. In the same way, the natural person lacks the spiritual capacity to grasp the things of God.
This verse highlights the Christian belief that faith and spiritual understanding are gifts from God, enabled by the Holy Spirit. It emphasizes the transformative work of the Holy Spirit in the life of a believer, enabling them to see and understand things that were previously hidden or incomprehensible.