1 Corinthians 2:12-16 (WEL) Now, we haven’t received the world’s spirit, but have received the Spirit, which is from God so that we might understand the things which have been freely given to us by God. 13 We talk about these things also, not in the words which human wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, combining spiritual ideas with spiritual words. 14 But the natural man doesn’t accept the things of the Spirit of God because they are foolish to him, neither can he know them because they are spiritually discerned. 15 “On the other hand, the spiritual person does indeed discern all things, yet he himself is discerned by no one.” 16 For who has known the mind of the Lord? Who may advise him? But we have the mind of Christ. [Isaiah 40:13]
V12 Now, we haven’t received the world’s spirit, but have received the Spirit, which is from God so that we might understand the things which have been freely given to us by God.
The world’s spirit is the god of this world—the devil (2 Corinthians 4:4).
Comments:
Precept Austin: “Not the spirit of the world – The spirit of the world has been interpreted several ways as worldly wisdom (Pratt), worldly reasoning (Hodge), demonic spirits (e.g., Paul describes “the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience” in Eph 2:2+ the least likely interpretation). While clearly the way the lost world thinks is influenced by Satan and his emissaries, the immediate context would seem to favor the idea of worldly wisdom. Wuest paraphrases it as “the spirit of the world system.” (Eerdmans Publishing – used by permission)”
Henry Alford on the spirit of the world – “Not merely the mind and sentiments of unregenerate mankind, but the spirit (personally and objectively taken) of the world,—the spirit which is now working in the sons of disobedience, Eph. 2:2, where it is strictly personal. (1 Corinthians 2 – Greek Testament Critical Exegetical Commentary)”
Christians have the gift of the Holy Spirit indwelling us. Jesus promised it (John 14:17), and it happened (Acts 2:4, Romans 5:5, Ephesians 1:13, and 1 Corinthians 12:13).
The Holy Spirit is our helper (John 14:16, John 14:17, and John 14:26). The Holy Spirit has given many gifts (Romans 12:6-8, 1 Corinthians 12:3-8, and Ephesians 4:8-12).
V13 We talk about these things also, not in the words which human wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, combining spiritual ideas with spiritual words.
Paul writes, “I am not using human or worldly wisdom, but the wisdom that comes from the Holy Spirit.” “Spiritual ideas with spiritual words” refers to spiritual principles converted into words that the prophets and Apostles then taught to the believers.
Again, Paul makes a distinction between worldly wisdom (philosophy, etc., James 3:14-16) and God’s wisdom (James 3:17).
Comments:
Wuest adds – “This brings us to the doctrine of verbal inspiration which Paul states in verse thirteen. After the Bible writers had been given the truth by means of the act of the Holy Spirit in uncovering it to them, the apostle says that they were not left to themselves to make a record of it. It is one thing to know a certain fact. It is quite another to find the exact words which will give someone else an adequate understanding of that fact. And right here is where the need of verbal inspiration comes in. Eerdmans Publishing – used by permission).”
(Holman Commentary) “The message that Paul and the other apostles spoke was not an ordinary, natural message. Human wisdom (i.e., eloquent human reasoning) could not find the words to express it. Instead, it came through words taught by the Spirit who expresses spiritual truths in spiritual words. This final phrase may also be translated “interpreting spiritual truths to spiritual men” or “combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words.” Paul’s main idea is evident. The Holy Spirit gives a revelation that is very special and cannot be discerned or communicated by ordinary means.”
V14 But the natural man doesn’t accept the things of the Spirit of God because they are foolish to him, neither can he know them because they are spiritually discerned.
The natural man is the unconverted person without Christ and His salvation. This person tends to think that God’s words are foolish and too difficult. The Holy Spirit is the agent that teaches and guides all believers.
John Wesley writes: “But the natural man—that is, every man who hath not the Spirit; who has no other way of obtaining knowledge but by his senses and natural understanding. Receiveth not—does not understand or conceive. The things of the Spirit—the things revealed by the Spirit of God, whether relating to his nature or his kingdom. For they are foolishness to him—he is so far from understanding that he utterly despises them. Neither can he know them—as he has not the will, so neither has he the power. Because they are spiritually discerned—they can only be discerned by the aid of that Spirit and by those spiritual senses which he has not.”
V15 “On the other hand, the spiritual person does indeed discern all things, yet he himself is discerned by no one.”
Believers are able to understand by reading and studying the Bible, by teaching by pastors/teachers, by living our lives, and by the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
(Holman Commentary) “The teachings of the Spirit are foolish and cannot be understood because they are spiritually discerned. People without the Spirit cannot grasp the revelation of God’s wisdom because they hold to wrong standards of judgment. They employ the standards of human wisdom to judge the truth claims of Christ. The revelation of the Spirit, however, is properly evaluated only by the Spirit’s work in the heart and mind of a person.
“Paul laid out this perspective on unbelievers to prepare his Corinthian readers for a point he was about to make. They had the Spirit in their lives because they were believers, but they still had to evaluate whether or not they depended on the Spirit. They had to reassess their own habit of turning from the Spirit to the false wisdom of the world.”
V16 For who has known the mind of the Lord? Who may advise him? But we have the mind of Christ. [Isaiah 40:13]
No human can understand God’s worldview, lifestyle, rules, principles, governance, etc., without the assistance of the Holy Spirit. The mind of Christ is the revealed words of Scripture.
We learn:
- We must depend on the Holy Spirit to teach and guide us.
- How the unconverted cannot know God and His ways.
Questions:
- Do you read and study the Scriptures to learn God’s ways?
- Do you believe what you read?