1 Corinthians 2:14

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.

'natural' -'refers to one who obeys the promptings of his bodily nature..unspiritual or carnal.' (Lenski p. 115) 'He's the man who stands aloof from the wisdom of God and who depends on his foolish "wisdom".' (McGuiggan p. 46)

'receiveth not' -'Does not accept, rejects, refuses to accept.' (Robertson p. 89)

'the things of the Spirit of God' -i.e. the things that the Spirit revealed through the Apostles. The "natural" man rejects the gospel message.

Points to Note:

1. Many consider this "natural" man to be. non-Christian. And such. person would certainly qualify. And yet, the Corinthians were in danger to becoming this "natural" man. (1 Corinthians 3:1-3). see Paul defining the "natural" man as anyone who rejects the teachings delivered by the Spirit, and some Christians did that in the First Century. (1 Corinthians 14:37; 2 Thessalonians 3:6; 2 Thessalonians 3:14)

2. Therefore, the "natural" man isn't. man so depraved that he can't understand the Gospel Message without the direct operation of the Holy Spirit. Note: There is just something. don't get. If the sinner is so depraved that he can't understand 'God so loved the world...' (John 3:16), etc...Then why is he able to understand 'Coldest Beer in Town sold here'? Aren't both simply concepts expressed by words?

3. The phrase "receiveth not", implies. choice,. conscious decision. He hears it, he understands what is being said, but he doesn't like it. The enemies of Jesus ("natural men"), understood what He taught. (Matthew 21:45; Matthew 27:63) Those that rejected Paul's message, understood the concepts he was presenting (Acts 17:32; Acts 22:22; Acts 25:25 (Felix,. "natural" man, understood exactly what Paul was driving at).

'for they are foolishness unto him' -(1 Corinthians 1:23). Again note, the various unconverted Jews and Gentiles that had rejected Paul's preaching, "understood" that Paul was preaching. crucified Messiah, it's simply that they thought such. concept was ridiculous. To this day people consider the message of the New Testament to be foolishness for various reasons.

It's important to note that one's attitude toward's the gospel, reveals one's true self. Those that reject the gospel message are automatically labeled as "unspiritual". "People are revealed for who they are by their response to the cross." (Fee p. 117)

'and he cannot know them' -in order to consider it "foolishness", he must know something about the gospel, if only what it claims.

Points to Note:

1. Paul has already stressed that man cannot know God apart from revelation. (1 Corinthians 2:8-9; 1 Corinthians 1:21)

2. Hence, the man or woman who has rejected the gospel message, has just cut themselves off from the only true information that we have about God.

'because they are spiritually judged' -'appreciated by spiritual insight' (Wms); 'because it takes spiritual insight to see its true value' (Gspd)

'judged' -350. anakrino an-ak-ree'-no; from 303 and 2919; properly, to scrutinize, i.e. (by implication) investigate, interrogate, determine: -ask, question, discern, examine, judge, search.

'Men access things differently according to their frames of reference.. fitness fanatic will (very often) have no appreciation at all for chess or sedentary pursuits.. man who has time only for making money frowns on holidays as. "waste of time"...The natural man judges everything by his worldly wisdom and spiritual things are ridiculed.' (McGuiggan p. 46)

Point to Note:

And how are things "spiritually judged"? Clearly, by the Scriptures (Acts 17:11; 1 Thessalonians 5:21; Hebrews 5:14). Therefore, the person who has no appreciation for the revelation of the Spirit, is going to be wrong about many things. So why were they, and why do we become enthralled with people that don't even believe the Bible is the word of God? (Jeremiah 2:9..'Behold, they have rejected the word of the Lord, And what kind of wisdom do they have? '). Good question.