1 Corinthians 2:14-16

Scripture: 1 Cor. 2:14 The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.

1 Cor. 2:15 The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one.

1 Cor. 2:16 “For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.

Teaching: After describing in verses 12-14 the difference between human wisdom and the wisdom of God, Paul in verse 14 makes an interesting assertion – that the “natural” (unbelieving) person not only refuses the things of God, but they are “folly” or complete absurdity to him. The natural person is not giving a fair consideration to the things of God, weighing the pros and cons and coming to a reasoned conclusion about them; it is as if the one speaking the wisdom of God to a natural person is speaking in Japanese to an English speaker. Nothing is being communicated because the wisdom of God is not naturally, logically, or academically discerned, but “spiritually discerned.” The presence of the Spirit of God is required; in His absence, nothing is spiritually discerned and the things of God are dismissed as if in a foreign language.

This leads Paul to verses 15-16, some fairly inscrutable verses on first glance. Seeing these verses in context, they are Paul’s concluding points to his argument for the Spirit of God being required for God’s wisdom to be known. Paul is saying that when we come to faith, and are indwelled by the Spirit (become a “spiritual person” in the context of verse 15), no one can then come later and offer us more of the Spirit or teach spiritual truth in a way to rival the Holy Spirit. This is not to say that teachers are not needed, as Paul says elsewhere they are; this is Paul saying that there is no one who can rival the Holy Spirit himself in teaching what is the mind of God. We all have the same source! Thus, Paul quotes Isaiah 40:13 in verse 16, rhetorically chiding the Corinthians to consider their place before God. In all their prideful wisdom, can they teach God anything at all? Of course not. Thus, Paul rests his case indicting their pride in their own wisdom by saying “we have the mind of Christ.” We, as believers saved by Christ, should seek to have Christ’s mind, and by the Spirit indwelling us, we have it in full measure if we would only listen.

Takeaway: Pride inevitably leads us to a mindset that says “I don’t need God” or “I am wiser than God.” We don’t often say those words, “I am wiser than God,” but when we choose worldly wisdom over God’s wisdom, we are saying it with our actions. It is saying, “I know you said this, God, but I’m going to do that because I think it’s better.” Proverbs 1:7 says “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,” and that is absolutely true. But notice, it is but the beginning of wisdom. True wisdom is indiscernible without first recognizing that God is God and I am not. (For a great study of this idea, read Job 38-41). But from this beginning, by the Spirit of God, we can grasp the inherent debt we owe to the holy God because of our sin. We see that He is holy and we are not. In recognizing our sin, we realize we need a savior. The greatest wisdom of God is the Gospel, but it is not naturally appraised but only received by the presence of the Holy Spirit acting upon our hearts. Otherwise, it is folly and foolishness! But after believing, and receiving the Holy Spirit, the wisdom of God, the mind of Christ, is fully accessible to us. This wisdom will lead us in the ways of Christ, which will by default, put us at odds with the world and its wisdom. Thus, growing in God’s wisdom requires choosing His ways over our own. Understand this today. If you are seeking the wisdom of God, first, check your pride.