Anakalypsis / Unveiling the Word

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.

KJV

ψυχικὸς δὲ ἄνθρωπος οὐ δέχεται τὰ τοῦ πνεύματος τοῦ θεοῦ, μωρία γὰρ αὐτῷ ἐστιν, καὶ οὐ δύναται γνῶναι, ὅτι πνευματικῶς ἀνακρίνεται·

Greek NT

Animalis autem homo non percipit ea quæ sunt Spiritus Dei : stultitia enim est illi, et non potest intelligere : quia spiritualiter examinatur.

Vulgate

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.

ASV

But the sensual man perceiveth not these things that are of the Spirit of God. For it is foolishness to him: and he cannot understand, because it is spiritually examined.

Douay-Rheims

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In the original Greek

18 distinct Greek words appear in this verse.

αὐτός
autos
pronoun · 5564×
γάρ
gar
conjunction · 1036×
γινώσκω
ginosko
verb · 222×
δέ
de
conjunction · 2781×
δέχομαι
dechomai
verb · 56×
δύναμαι
dunamai
verb · 209×
εἰμί
eimi
verb · 2461×
θεός
theos
noun · 1311×
καί
kai
conjunction · 8973×
μωρία
moria
noun · 5×
οὐ
ou
particle · 1626×
πνευματικῶς
pneumatikos
adverb · 2×
πνεῦμα
pneuma
noun · 379×
ψυχικός
psuchikos
adjective · 6×
ἀνακρίνω
anakrino
verb · 16×
ἄνθρωπος
anthropos
noun · 549×
ὁ
o
article · 19778×
ὅτι
oti
conjunction · 1299×

Themes

Historic Christian voices

16 passages from patristic writers, Reformers, and church catechisms citing this verse.

§2038In the work of teaching and applying Christian morality, the Church needs the dedication of pastors, the knowledge of theologians, and the contribution of all Christians and men of good will. Faith and the practice of the Gospel provide each person with an experience of life "in Christ," who enlightens him and makes him able to evaluate the divine and human realities according …
How the Valentinians pervert the Scriptures to support their own pious opinions. 1. Such, then, is their system, which neither the prophets announced, nor the Lord taught, nor the apostles delivered, but of which they boast that beyond all others they have a perfect knowledge. They gather their views from other sources than the Scriptures; and, to use a common proverb, they str…
2. What then says the mouth of the apostles, Peter, the ever fervent, the leader of the apostolic choir? When all are asked, he answers. And whereas when He asked the opinion of the people, all replied to the question; when He asked their own, Peter springs forward, and anticipates them, and says, You are the Christ, the Son of the living God. Matthew 16:16 What then says Chris…
1. Of the men of that time some clung to their error, others laid hold on the truth, while of these last, some having retained it for a little while again fell off from it. Alluding to these, Christ compared them to seeds not deeply sown, but having their roots upon the surface of the earth; and He said that they should quickly perish. And these the Evangelist has here pointed …
Source. Translated by J. Walker, J. Sheppard and H. Browne, and revised by George B. Stevens. From Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, First Series, Vol. 11. Edited by Philip Schaff. (Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Publishing Co., 1889.) Revised and edited for New Advent by Kevin Knight. <https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/210213.htm>. Contact information. The editor of New Adven…
1. Anarchy is an evil, and the occasion of many calamities, and the source of disorder and confusion. For as, if you take away the leader from a chorus, the chorus will not be in tune and in order; and if from a phalanx of an army thou remove the commander, the evolutions will no longer be made in time and order, and if from a ship thou take away the helmsman, you will sink the…
1. How Christians are the Spiritual Israel. That people which was called of old the people of God was divided into twelve tribes, and over and above the other tribes it had the levitical order, which itself again carried on the service of God in various priestly and levitical suborders. In the same manner, it appears to me that the whole people of Christ, when we regard it in t…
1 And the Word was with God, and the Word was God. In the preceding section, my revered brother Ambrosius, brother formed according to the Gospel, we have discussed, as far as is at present in our power, what the Gospel is, and what is the beginning in which the Word was, and what the Word is which was in the beginning. We now come to consider the next point in the work before …
Of the goodness of God explained in the creation of things, and of the Trinity as found in the first words of Genesis. The story concerning the origin of the world (Genesis 1) is allegorically explained, and he applies it to those things which God works for sanctified and blessed man. Finally, he makes an end of this work, having implored eternal rest from God. Chapter 1. He Ca…
Affections that are truly spiritual and gracious arise from those influences and operations on the heart which are spiritual, supernatural, and divine. The Spirit of God is given to the true saints to dwell in them as His proper lasting abode, and to influence their hearts as a new supernatural principle of life and action.
Moreover, when God carries out this good pleasure in the elect and works true conversion in them, God not only has the gospel outwardly preached to them and enlightens their minds powerfully by the Holy Spirit so that they may rightly understand and discern the things of the Spirit of God, but by the effective operation of the same regenerating Spirit, God also penetrates into …
We believe that God created human beings from the dust of the earth and made and formed them in his image and likeness—good, just, and holy; able by their will to conform in all things to the will of God. But when they were in honor they did not understand it and did not recognize their excellence. But they subjected themselves willingly to sin and consequently to death and the…
In this matter we teach that there is a threefold condition or state of man. Man in his first estate before the fall was endowed with free will, so that he could either remain in goodness or decline to evil. However, he declined to evil, and has involved himself and the entire human race in sin, as has been said already. Man in his second estate, after the fall, is not deprived…

Cross-references

  • 1Cor 1:18 — For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
  • 1Cor 1:18 — For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
  • 1Cor 1:23 — But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;
  • 1Cor 1:23 — But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;
  • 1Cor 2:12 — Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
  • 1Cor 2:13 — Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
  • 1Cor 3:1 — And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.
  • 1Cor 15:44 — It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.
  • 1Cor 15:46 — Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.
  • 1John 2:20 — But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things.
  • 1John 2:27 — But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as i
  • 1John 5:20 — And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and
  • 1Kgs 3:9 — Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?
  • 1Thess 5:21 — Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
  • 2Cor 4:4 — In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
  • 2Sam 6:16 — And as the ark of the LORD came into the city of David, Michal Saul’s daughter looked through a window, and saw king David leaping and dancing before the LORD; and she despised him in her heart.
  • Acts 16:14 — And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul.
  • Acts 17:20 — For thou bringest certain strange things to our ears: we would know therefore what these things mean.
  • Acts 17:32 — And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked: and others said, We will hear thee again of this matter.
  • Acts 18:15 — But if it be a question of words and names, and of your law, look ye to it; for I will be no judge of such matters.
  • Acts 25:19 — But had certain questions against him of their own superstition, and of one Jesus, which was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive.
  • Amos 7:12 — Also Amaziah said unto Amos, O thou seer, go, flee thee away into the land of Judah, and there eat bread, and prophesy there:
  • Col 3:3 — For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
  • Eccl 8:5 — Whoso keepeth the commandment shall feel no evil thing: and a wise man’s heart discerneth both time and judgment.
  • Gen 31:28 — And hast not suffered me to kiss my sons and my daughters? thou hast now done foolishly in so doing.
  • Heb 5:14 — But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
  • Isa 8:16 — Bind up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples.
  • Jas 3:15 — This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.
  • Jas 3:15 — This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.
  • John 1:5 — And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
  • John 3:3 — Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
  • John 3:4 — Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?
  • John 4:11 — The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast thou that living water?
  • John 5:44 — How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only?
  • John 6:44 — No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.
  • John 6:52 — The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying, How can this man give us his flesh to eat?
  • John 8:37 — I know that ye are Abraham’s seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you.
  • John 8:43 — Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word.
  • John 8:51 — Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death.
  • John 10:20 — And many of them said, He hath a devil, and is mad; why hear ye him?