1 Corinthians 2:14-16
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The word "natural" here doesn't just mean "ordinary" – it points to someone relying solely on their own human reasoning, completely missing the spiritual dimension God offers. This isn't about intellect; it’s about a fundamental inability to grasp divine truth without the Spirit's illumination, making God's wisdom seem like utter foolishness to them.
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. The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one. “For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Paul is explaining why the message of the cross, which seems foolish to many, is actually the profound wisdom of God. He contrasts the understanding of believers, who have received the Spirit of God, with those who haven't, highlighting that true spiritual insight isn't something one can figure out on their own. This sets up his argument that God reveals His wisdom through the Spirit, not through human intellect or worldly wisdom.
Ever feel like spiritual truths just don't 'click' for some people? Paul explains why.
Paul uses the term 'natural person' here to describe someone who lives solely by their own senses and reasoning, without the Spirit of God guiding them. They operate on a human level, trying to process everything through logic and experience alone. When it comes to the 'things of the Spirit' – God's wisdom, His plans, His very nature – this natural perspective sees them as nonsensical, as 'folly.' It’s not that the person is unintelligent; it's that their capacity to understand is limited to the realm they know, and the spiritual realm is entirely outside of that.
Think of it like trying to explain color to someone born blind. They can grasp the physics of light waves, but the experience of seeing red or blue is beyond their current comprehension. The natural person lacks the 'spiritual senses' to perceive and evaluate spiritual realities.
How can we bridge the gap between the natural and the spiritual? Paul points to a vital ability.
The verse concludes with the crucial phrase: 'because they are spiritually discerned.' This isn't about intellectual superiority; it's about a capacity given by God. To 'discern' spiritually means to perceive, evaluate, and understand by the power of the Holy Spirit.
When someone is born again, the Holy Spirit comes to live within them. This Spirit acts like a spiritual translator and illuminator. He opens our eyes to see the truth of God's Word and His ways, which were previously hidden or seemed like nonsense. It’s the Spirit who enables us to grasp the profound wisdom found in the Gospel and in God’s character. Without this spiritual discernment, the deepest truths of God remain locked away, appearing as mere foolishness.
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Understand the original words
psychikos · Greek Adjective
The unregenerate human being who relies solely on natural faculties, senses, and worldly understanding. This person lacks the indwelling Spirit and is therefore unable to perceive or appreciate divine realities.
mōria · Greek Noun
That which is considered absurd, irrational, or nonsensical to the natural mind. In biblical terms, it refers to the gospel message which appears foolish to the worldly because it reverses the values of human pride.
pneumatikōs anakrinetai · Greek Verb
The process of examining, distinguishing, or evaluating through the lens of the Holy Spirit. It implies a capability given by God to discern what is of Him versus what is of the flesh or the world.
pneumatikos · Greek Adjective
A person who is indwelt, guided, and empowered by the Holy Spirit. This individual possesses a new capacity to understand, evaluate, and align their life with the will of God.
anakrinei · Greek Verb
The act of evaluating, assessing, or investigating. In this context, it refers to the capacity of the believer to rightly weigh and discern the nature of spiritual and worldly affairs.
nous · Greek Noun
Refers to the seat of human intellect, reasoning, intention, and moral consciousness. In a biblical context, it encompasses the faculty of understanding and the capacity for thought and judgment.
kyrios · Greek Noun
The title used for God, emphasizing His sovereignty, authority, and ownership over all creation. It translates the Hebrew YHWH, reflecting the covenant name of God.
symbibazō · Greek Verb
To teach, advise, or provide direction. In a biblical context, it often implies a posture of superior wisdom attempting to guide or correct another, which is contrasted here with God's infinite wisdom.
Christou · Greek Noun
The Greek title meaning 'Anointed One,' referring to Jesus as the promised Messiah. It signifies His divine appointment, messianic office, and redemptive role as the Savior of the world.
This passage echoes the idea that the message of the cross, though foolish to the world, is the power of God to believers, highlighting the spiritual discernment mentioned in 1 Corinthians 2:14.
Romans 8:5-8Paul directly contrasts those who live according to the flesh (the 'natural person') with those who live according to the Spirit, explaining that the former cannot please God because they lack spiritual understanding.
John 14:16-17Jesus explains that the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive because it neither sees him nor knows him, is available to believers, mirroring the inability of the 'natural person' to grasp spiritual realities.
Ephesians 4:17-19This passage describes the spiritual blindness and darkened understanding of those who are separated from God, a state consistent with the 'natural person' unable to discern spiritual things.
The word "natural" here doesn't just mean "ordinary" – it points to someone relying solely on their own human reasoning, completely missing the spiritual dimension God offers. This isn't about intellect; it’s about a fundamental inability to grasp divine truth without the Spirit's illumination, making God's wisdom seem like utter foolishness to them.
Paul is explaining why the message of the cross, which seems foolish to many, is actually the profound wisdom of God. He contrasts the understanding of believers, who have received the Spirit of God, with those who haven't, highlighting that true spiritual insight isn't something one can figure out on their own. This sets up his argument that God reveals His wisdom through the Spirit, not through human intellect or worldly wisdom.
Paul is explaining why the message of the cross, which seems foolish to many, is actually the profound wisdom of God. He contrasts the understanding of believers, who have received the Spirit of God, with those who haven't, highlighting that true spiritual insight isn't something one can figure out on their own. This sets up his argument that God reveals His wisdom through the Spirit, not through human intellect or worldly wisdom.
"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. The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judge…" — The word "natural" here doesn't just mean "ordinary" – it points to someone relying solely on their own human reasoning, completely missing the spiritual dimension God offers. This isn't about inte…
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Last reviewed October 2026
