1 Cor 2:15

[Arial]

"The spiritual person judges all things but is himself to be judged by no one."

Peter says in 2 Peter16 that some of the things in Paul's letters are difficult to understand.

That one line is one I am having trouble with. I understand all the went before in chapters 1 and 2 and know who the "spiritual person" and I understand "spiritual things".

But I cannot relate that sentence to the rest of the context. So, my question is:

What does Paul mean?

 

[makesends]

I've always taken it to be speaking of liberty of conscience. The same sort of thing is seen in, "whatsoever is not of faith is sin", and, "it is for freedom that Christ has set us free", and the principle of not giving up your freedom to legalism, or to legalists.

1 Cor 8, 9 and 10 speak at length about the responsibility toward others that comes with an assumed freedom of conscience.

 

[Carbon]

"The spiritual person judges all things but is himself to be judged by no one."

Peter says in 2 Peter16 that some of the things in Paul's letters are difficult to understand.

That one line is one I am having trouble with. I understand all the went before in chapters 1 and 2 and know who the "spiritual person" and I understand "spiritual things".

But I cannot relate that sentence to the rest of the context. So, my question is:

What does Paul mean?

I believe Paul meant something along the lines of, those who are really renewed (regenerated) in the Spirit of their mind can search, discern, and form a right understanding/judgement about everything necessary to be known in order for salvation, though our views cannot be judged by any other man, far less by those who do not have the Spirit of God, as they do not have the true experience of these things.

 

[Carbon]

I believe Paul meant something along the lines of, those who are really renewed (regenerated) in the Spirit of his mind can search, discern, and form a right understanding/judgement about everything necessary to be known in order for salvation, though our views cannot be judged by any other man, far less by those who do not have the Spirit of God, as they do not have the true experience of these things.

Note, I am not claiming we (believers) will have everything correct.

 

[Carbon]

I believe Paul meant something along the lines of, those who are really renewed (regenerated) in the Spirit of their mind can search, discern, and form a right understanding/judgement about everything necessary to be known in order for salvation, though our views cannot be judged by any other man, far less by those who do not have the Spirit of God, as they do not have the true experience of these things.

I believe verse 16 confirms this. 1Cor 2:16

“For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.

 

[Carbon]

I believe verse 16 confirms this. 1Cor 2:16

“For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.

Another thought on this.

What unregenerate man ever penetrated into the secret councils or revealed truths of God? In order to be able to instruct a (another) believer, or to test our own views to prove which is true. None but the believer.

 

[John Bauer]

Here is my attempt at a Reformed-influenced paraphrase:

[14] The unregenerate person, considered merely in Adam and left to the resources of fallen nature, does not welcome the things revealed by the Spirit of God. He regards them as foolish, not because they are irrational, but because his mind and affections are disordered by sin. He is not able to understand them rightly, because they must be spiritually discerned.

[15] But the person renewed by the Spirit is enabled to appraise all things according to God’s revelation in Christ. He can discern what the natural person cannot, because he has been given the Spirit’s light. Yet he himself cannot be rightly appraised by those still operating from fallen unbelief, for they lack the very principle by which his judgment is formed.

[16] For who, standing outside God’s self-revelation, has known the mind of the Lord so as to correct, instruct, or overrule him? But we, by grace and through the Spirit, have been given the mind of Christ.

 

[Arial]

Note, I am not claiming we (believers) will have everything correct.

That was my next question regarding your post. If that is what Paul means how is it that not all the regenerated agree on the doctrines of salvation? And how is it that we often get things wrong before we get them right?

 

[Carbon]

That was my next question regarding your post. If that is what Paul means how is it that not all the regenerated agree on the doctrines of salvation?

We, the regenerate children of God, are instructed by the Holy Spirit in Christian doctrine, in everything respecting the glory of God and the salvation of men, unlike the unregenerate. There will come a time when all the regenerate will agree on all doctrines.

And how is it that we often get things wrong before we get them right?

Thankfully, we can study, pray, and reason many of them out, where the unregenerate cannot.

Excellent questions again.

 

[fastfredy0]

MacArthur New Testament Study Bible

But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised. But he who is spiritual appraises all things, yet he himself is appraised by no man. For who has known the mind of the Lord, that he should instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ. (2:14 - 16)

The third step in the Spirit’s transmission of God’s truth is that of illumination.

The natural man cannot know or understand the things of the Spirit of God because they can only be spiritually appraised.

He who is spiritual, on the other hand, appraises all things. The believer has a resident Truth Teacher to enlighten him about all the things of God about which he needs to know “As for you,” John wrote, “the anointing which you received from Him abides in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you; but as His anointing teaches you about all things, and is true and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you abide in Him” (1 John 2:27). The Holy Spirit takes God’s Word, the Word which He has revealed and inspired, and illuminates it for those in whom He dwells.

Unlike God’s revelation and inspiration, which were given to the biblical writers, His illumination is for all Christians. We all can rightly appraise the Word when we rely on the Giver of the Word.

Because the natural man cannot rightly appraise God’s Word he cannot rightly appraise God’s people, either. He who is spiritual… himself is appraised by no man. It is just as impossible for the world to understand faithful Christians as it is for them to understand God Himself and His Word. They try to appraise believers, of course, but they are always wrong. They may accurately evaluate our faults, shortcomings, and our living that is inconsistent with our faith. But they cannot accurately evaluate our faith. If the gospel itself is a stumbling block and foolishness to them, so is faith based on the gospel.

As Christians, God instructs us. We are able to understand all things of His Word because we have the mind of Christ. Christ thinks God’s thoughts, understands God’s wisdom. We have His mind. This term is translated “understanding” in 14:14, 15, 19. Its usage here may best be understood from its use in Luke 24:45 of Jesus’ revelation to the disciples on the road to Emmaus: “Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures.”

The doctrine of illumination does not mean we can know and understand everything (Deut. 29:29), that we do not need human teachers (Eph. 4:11 - 12), or that study is not hard work (2 Tim. 2:15). It does mean that Scripture can be understood by every Christian who is diligent and obedient.

my 2 cents worth

 

[Carbon]

The doctrine of illumination does not mean we can know and understand everything (Deut. 29:29), that we do not need human teachers (Eph. 4:11 - 12), or that study is not hard work (2 Tim. 2:15). It does mean that Scripture can be understood by every Christian who is diligent and obedient.

my 2 cents worth

Amen!

 

[Arial]

MacArthur New Testament Study Bible

But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised. But he who is spiritual appraises all things, yet he himself is appraised by no man. For who has known the mind of the Lord, that he should instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ. (2:14 - 16)

The third step in the Spirit’s transmission of God’s truth is that of illumination.

The natural man cannot know or understand the things of the Spirit of God because they can only be spiritually appraised.

He who is spiritual, on the other hand, appraises all things. The believer has a resident Truth Teacher to enlighten him about all the things of God about which he needs to know “As for you,” John wrote, “the anointing which you received from Him abides in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you; but as His anointing teaches you about all things, and is true and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you abide in Him” (1 John 2:27). The Holy Spirit takes God’s Word, the Word which He has revealed and inspired, and illuminates it for those in whom He dwells.

Unlike God’s revelation and inspiration, which were given to the biblical writers, His illumination is for all Christians. We all can rightly appraise the Word when we rely on the Giver of the Word.

Because the natural man cannot rightly appraise God’s Word he cannot rightly appraise God’s people, either. He who is spiritual… himself is appraised by no man. It is just as impossible for the world to understand faithful Christians as it is for them to understand God Himself and His Word. They try to appraise believers, of course, but they are always wrong. They may accurately evaluate our faults, shortcomings, and our living that is inconsistent with our faith. But they cannot accurately evaluate our faith. If the gospel itself is a stumbling block and foolishness to them, so is faith based on the gospel.

As Christians, God instructs us. We are able to understand all things of His Word because we have the mind of Christ. Christ thinks God’s thoughts, understands God’s wisdom. We have His mind. This term is translated “understanding” in 14:14, 15, 19. Its usage here may best be understood from its use in Luke 24:45 of Jesus’ revelation to the disciples on the road to Emmaus: “Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures.”

The doctrine of illumination does not mean we can know and understand everything (Deut. 29:29), that we do not need human teachers (Eph. 4:11 - 12), or that study is not hard work (2 Tim. 2:15). It does mean that Scripture can be understood by every Christian who is diligent and obedient.

my 2 cents worth

And what a good two cents it was.

I guess my inability to grasp why that one sentence (15) was where it was and worded as it was, is because I was not directly connecting it as referring back to the "natural" man, those who do not have the Spirit, or to the unregenerate judging (appraising) us. I am mainly reading the ESV and it uses "judges/judged". That is what was throwing me.

 

[Arial]

Thankfully, we can study, pray, and reason many of them out, where the unregenerate cannot.

That was the problem I was having with the passage. I didn't specifically connect it with the unregenerate.

Everyone has been really helpful.

 

[Bruiser]

"The spiritual person judges all things but is himself to be judged by no one."

Peter says in 2 Peter16 that some of the things in Paul's letters are difficult to understand.

That one line is one I am having trouble with. I understand all the went before in chapters 1 and 2 and know who the "spiritual person" and I understand "spiritual things".

But I cannot relate that sentence to the rest of the context. So, my question is:

What does Paul mean?

I think it falls under our being made kings and priests. We can judge all for ourselves Objectively; but we are only Judged by Jesus. We're to be convinced in our own Minds. I realized long ago that when people judged me, they were only critics. But as far as we are concerned, after we remove the beam from our eye; we, can see clearly...

 

[Bruiser]

That was my next question regarding your post. If that is what Paul means how is it that not all the regenerated agree on the doctrines of salvation? And how is it that we often get things wrong before we get them right?

I would say that everyone has to agree the Law of God proves Sin, and the Gospel of Jesus Christ proves Salvation. These are the Doctrines of Salvation; Unconditional Election, etc isn't a Doctrine of Salvation. That would be Hyper...

Though the Way is narrow, the Way is Elementary. The Reprobate have a Spiritual Learning Disability (spiritual death); the Elementary is too much for them...

 

[Bruiser]

I would say that everyone has to agree the Law of God proves Sin, and the Gospel of Jesus Christ proves Salvation. These are the Doctrines of Salvation; Unconditional Election isn't a Doctrine of Salvation. That would be Hyper...

Though the Way is narrow, the Way is Elementary. The Reprobate have a Spiritual Learning Disability; the Elementary is too much for them...

Easy Believism ~ by ReverendRV * March 23

Romans 10:9 KJV; That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

The Protestant Reformation was built largely upon the premise we are Saved through ‘Faith Alone’. ~ Recently a Celebrity has come out as a Christian, claiming “Jesus is King”. Christians are concerned that the Star will let us down as other Stars have in the past, saying “Let’s wait and see”; but should we wait?? Some Churches take issue with Easy Believeism, but it takes very little for us to become a Christian. Thank God that this is true, because our Justification in the sight of God could never be real any other way! May God bless this Star and use him for the increase of his Kingdom, and his Honor and Glory. The World will want to break him; but when God is involved, a bruised reed he will not break. Becoming a Christian is easy, but Persevering in the Faith could be another matter…

I wanted to show that ‘Easy Believism’ and ‘Easy Condemnation’ have a certain Equilibrium; sort of an Equal Ultimacy. ~ Have you ever told a Lie? You say, “That’s easy, yes I have”. What do you call people who Lie? You say, “That’s easy too, they are Liars”. What does all this make you out to be? You say, “It doesn’t make ME a Liar”. But wouldn’t their being Liars, also make you a Liar because of a kind of Equal Ultimacy; a ‘unifying’ Category so to speak? As it takes little to be Saved from the Penalty of your Sins, there’s an Equilibrium between easy Innocence and easy Guiltiness; all it takes is a Lie to be Guilty. But it gets worse; “The cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the Adulterous, those who practice magic arts, the Idolaters and all Liars shall have their part in the Lake which burns with fire and brimstone”. If God Judged you by this standard would you be Guilty? Would you go to this fiery Hell?? Does this bother you? ~ If it does, then it’s time for the Gospel…

For God so loved the world he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever ‘believes’ in him shall not perish but have everlasting Life; how easy is that?! For all have Sinned and Fallen short of the Glory of God, but the gift of God is Eternal Life in Jesus Christ. He lived a Sinless Life and earned a Righteousness which allowed him a Triumphal Entry into Heaven, but he gladly traded his triumph for our shame. Jesus Christ paid the penalty for Lying to God by shedding his blood on the Cross, Atoning for Sin. Jesus arose from the grave conquering Death and Hell, then ascended to Heaven where he prepares a place for us to be with him. We’re Saved by Grace through Faith in the risen Jesus Christ, without trying to Merit Salvation in any other conceivable way. Confess Jesus Christ as your Lord God, Repent of your Sins; and join a Bible believing Church as soon as you can. When Jesus bears your Sin, you bear his Righteousness; and are Forgiven. ~ “Equal Ultimacy” is used to debate higher Doctrines; but when someone else is Categorized as a Sinner, ultimately you are too. When Jesus is Righteous and you are in him; ultimately you are too. This is God’s Truth for you…

John 18:37 KJV; Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.