1 Corinthians 2:14
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.
Study Note
Study Note
Paul's declaration that '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' addresses the epistemological limitations of a purely human perspective. The 'natural person' (psychikos anthropos — the soul-animated person, without the Spirit) is not necessarily intellectually deficient but operates without the illuminating presence of the Spirit who searches even the depths of God (verse 10). The context (2:6-16) presents spiritual understanding not as mystical irrationalism but as the specific capacity for comprehending 'what God has prepared for those who love him' — insight that only the Spirit can give and only the Spirit can receive within the human knower. The verse has shaped Christian epistemology by grounding theological knowledge in pneumatological reception rather than unassisted human cognition.
Other Translations
Now the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him; and he cannot know them, because they are spiritually judged.
and the natural man doth not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for to him they are foolishness, and he is not able to know <FI>them<Fi> , because spiritually they are discerned;
For the natural man is not able to take in the things of the Spirit of God: for they seem foolish to him, and he is not able to have knowledge of them, because such knowledge comes only through the Spirit.
Cross References
A scorner seeketh wisdom, and findeth it not: but knowledge is easy unto him that understandeth.
He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of …
For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye …
But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou …
Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot …
That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only?
No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him …
It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, …
Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word.