1 Corinthians 2:14

[Carbon]

But a natural person 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 discerned.

How is this possible? Why would Paul write and teach such a thing? Does the natural man (the unregenerate) really not accept the things of the Spirit, and are they foolish? If so, in what way? And can these things really only be understood only by the Spirit?
Is this why Jesus said, . . . . “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

So, considering 1 Cor 2:14,
Paul teaches that there is an inability of the natural man (one who is unregenerated) to accept and understand the things of the Spirit (seems a universal statement).
The foolishness of the things of God, according to the scripture, is due to the fact that they are spiritually appraised. And as we know, "the natural man is not a spiritual man." So, obviously, there is a problem here.
Now, no one says the natural man cannot understand the basic things of the gospel. for example, the command to believe, repent, etc... But to understand how the word understand is used in this passage is important to understand what Paul is teaching. That is, - the natural man cannot accept and embrace spiritual things because he himself is not spiritually alive.

And, Reformed theology holds that the natural man is blind to spiritual values and that the sinful heart of man, so far from being disposed to yield itself in loving trust to God, is at enmity towards God. It is impossible that the external call by itself should produce faith in the heart of the natural man. The natural man cannot exercise saving faith since he cannot see the kingdom of God and its treasures, and much less can he appreciate the same. He must receive faith as a gift of God. This faith, however, is not communicated to man after a mechanical fashion. The Holy Spirit, by regeneration, creates in man a capacity for believing the gospel message.

 

[Carbon]

But a natural person 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 discerned.

How is this possible? Why would Paul write and teach such a thing? Does the natural man (the unregenerate) really not accept the things of the Spirit, and are they foolish? If so, in what way? And can these things really only be understood only by the Spirit?
Is this why Jesus said, . . . . “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

So, considering 1 Cor 2:14,
Paul teaches that there is an inability of the natural man (one who is unregenerated) to accept and understand the things of the Spirit (seems a universal statement).
The foolishness of the things of God, according to the scripture, is due to the fact that they are spiritually appraised. And as we know, "the natural man is not a spiritual man." So, obviously, there is a problem here.
Now, no one says the natural man cannot understand the basic things of the gospel. for example, the command to believe, repent, etc... But to understand how the word understand is used in this passage is important to understand what Paul is teaching. That is, - the natural man cannot accept and embrace spiritual things because he himself is not spiritually alive.

And, Reformed theology holds that the natural man is blind to spiritual values and that the sinful heart of man, so far from being disposed to yield itself in loving trust to God, is at enmity towards God. It is impossible that the external call by itself should produce faith in the heart of the natural man. The natural man cannot exercise saving faith since he cannot see the kingdom of God and its treasures, and much less can he appreciate the same. He must receive faith as a gift of God. This faith, however, is not communicated to man after a mechanical fashion. The Holy Spirit, by regeneration, creates in man a capacity for believing the gospel message.

There has been a lot of talk concerning this. I also noticed that if we let these discussions go unchecked, the Arminians often begin to argue a strawman.
I have heard Arminians argue that Calvinists believe that a totally depraved person is spiritually dead. By "spiritually dead," they mean the elimination of all human ability to understand or respond to God, not just a separation from God.

But this is not the Reformed position. Again, the spiritual dead person does not mean the elimination of all human ability to understand or respond to God. The unregenerate man is fully capable of understanding the facts of the gospel (I've witnessed it), but he is simply not capable, due to the corruption and enmity of submitting himself to the gospel.

So, the Reformed position is that man cannot understand and embrace the gospel nor respond in faith and repentance toward Christ without God first freeing him from sin and giving him spiritual life (regeneration).

 

[Carbon]

So, the Reformed position is that man cannot understand and embrace the gospel nor respond in faith and repentance toward Christ without God first freeing him from sin and giving him spiritual life (regeneration).

The Holy Spirit, in His regenerating activity, works below our (man's) consciousness on the very center of our (man's) being, so that our will is transformed in such a way that we turn away from sin and towards God and the good freely and gladly.

 

[Hazelelponi]

The gospel can be heard, analyzed, even defended—and still be regarded as foolish, because its glory and necessity are spiritually discerned.

That’s what makes regeneration so essential. Unless God gives life, the heart remains confident in the wrong things—often sincerely confident. I know what it is to believe I was righteous when I was not, to be certain and yet blind. That blindness isn’t stupidity; it’s enmity

When God opens someone's eyes, the result is not self-confidence but dependence. You walk into a world of competing claims, denominations, and voices, and the only thing you find you can actually cling to is Christ Himself. Not your understanding. Not your consistency. Not your ability to reason your way through it all—but Christ alone.

That is precisely why Paul says the natural man cannot accept the things of the Spirit. Acceptance here is not mere comprehension; it is embracing, valuing, and submitting. That requires new life.

So when Scripture says faith is a gift, it isn’t denying responsibility or human action. It’s confessing reality: left to ourselves, we would never choose rightly because we cannot see rightly without His eyes. Regeneration doesn’t coerce the will; it frees it. It gives a heart that now sees Christ as necessary, precious, and true, and supernaturally manages to hold us there against all odds.

That’s not academic. It’s a matter of life and death. And it’s why this doctrine should never be treated lightly or jokingly—because it deals with how sinners like us come to cling to Christ, the only hope any of us have.


P.S. love the kitty avatar. I do like cats.

 

[Carbon]

The gospel can be heard, analyzed, even defended—and still be regarded as foolish, because its glory and necessity are spiritually discerned.

That’s what makes regeneration so essential. Unless God gives life, the heart remains confident in the wrong things—often sincerely confident. I know what it is to believe I was righteous when I was not, to be certain and yet blind. That blindness isn’t stupidity; it’s enmity

When God opens someone's eyes, the result is not self-confidence but dependence. You walk into a world of competing claims, denominations, and voices, and the only thing you find you can actually cling to is Christ Himself. Not your understanding. Not your consistency. Not your ability to reason your way through it all—but Christ alone.

That is precisely why Paul says the natural man cannot accept the things of the Spirit. Acceptance here is not mere comprehension; it is embracing, valuing, and submitting. That requires new life.

So when Scripture says faith is a gift, it isn’t denying responsibility or human action. It’s confessing reality: left to ourselves, we would never choose rightly because we cannot see rightly without His eyes. Regeneration doesn’t coerce the will; it frees it. It gives a heart that now sees Christ as necessary, precious, and true, and supernaturally manages to hold us there against all odds.

That’s not academic. It’s a matter of life and death. And it’s why this doctrine should never be treated lightly or jokingly—because it deals with how sinners like us come to cling to Christ, the only hope any of us have.


P.S. love the kitty avatar. I do like cats.

I’m glad you like my cat.

 

[brightfame52]

When Paul writes 1 Cor 2:14 foolishness, does that mean the the preaching of the Cross in the previous chapter 1 Cor 1:18

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.

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.

are the "spiritual things of the Spirit of God" the same as the "preaching of the Cross"

 

[Carbon]

When Paul writes 1 Cor 2:14 foolishness, does that mean the the preaching of the Cross in the previous chapter 1 Cor 1:18

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.

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.

are the "spiritual things of the Spirit of God" the same as the "preaching of the Cross"

Do you believe the same thing will mean something different in the next chapter?

 

[brightfame52]

Do you believe the same thing will mean something different in the next chapter?

I believe the things of the Spirit of God in 1 Cor 2:14 are inclusive of the preaching of the cross in 1 Cor 1:18 how about you