1 Corinthians 2:14

But the natural man receives not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

Verse 13 Read Chapter 2 Verse 15

Clement Of Alexandria

AD 215

"But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness to him.". For he recognises the spiritual man and the Gnostic as the disciple of the Holy Spirit dispensed by God, which is the mind of Christ. "But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit, for they are foolishness to him."

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Cornelius a Lapide

AD 1637

The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God. Natural or animal is here applied to one who is concerned with this life only, and thinks after the way of this life, who follows the objects of his sensations and the thoughts of his heart. Such were the Apostles before they received the Holy Spirit, and such were the Corinthians at this time, as they sought after eloquence. Now, too, there are many of the faithful, not bad men, who do not seek after higher things. The word animal here comes from "anima," and has a threefold application. (1.) It is applied to one who grows, takes nourishment, and needs food, as all animals do. So Adam, though created in grace, is called animal [natural] ( 1 Corinthians 15:45-46). (2.) Secondly, to one who follows his nature, i.e, his lusts and desires. So the Jews are called animal or natural, as not having the Spirit. (3.) To one who follows after knowledge that is not spiritual and sublime, but open and easy to the mind and senses. This... Read More

4 mins2/13

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George Leo Haydock

AD 1849

But the sensual man They who are led away by sensual pleasures, do not even perceive or understand spiritual things; they seem foolish to them, and a folly to seek after them; because such things must be spiritually examined, that is, examined by the Spirit of God, which they have not. But the spiritual man judgeth all things, passeth a right judgment, not only of the things of this life, as carnal men can do, but even of spiritual things, which concern his eternal salvation. And he himself is judged by no one, that is, by no one, who is not spiritual, or who is not taught by the Spirit of God, to pass a right judgment: the sense also may be, that he cannot be justly blamed or condemned by any worldly man, who knows not how to judge of such spiritual things. (Witham) The sensual man is either he who is taken up with sensual pleasures, with carnal and worldly affections: or he who measureth divine mysteries by natural reason, sense, and human wisdom only. Now such a man has little or... Read More

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Gregory The Dialogist

AD 604

And again he says: "But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God."

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Hippolytus of Rome

AD 235

Wherefore, he says, "the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness unto him; "

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Irenaeus of Lyons

AD 202

Knowledge, then, consists in the understanding of Christ, which Paul terms the wisdom of God hidden in a mystery, which "the natural man receiveth not"

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Irenaeus of Lyons

AD 202

And in another place, "But the animal man receiveth not the things of the Spirit; ". A spiritual disciple of this sort truly receiving the Spirit of God, who was from the beginning, in all the dispensations of God, present with mankind, and announced things future, revealed things present, and narrated things past-. For men of this stamp do indeed say that they believe in the Father and the Son, but they never meditate as they should upon the things of God, neither are they adorned with works of righteousness; but, as I have already observed, they have adopted the lives of swine and of dogs, giving themselves over to filthiness, to gluttony, and recklessness of all sorts. Justly, therefore, did the apostle call all such "carnal "and "animal"

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John Chrysostom

AD 407

God gave us a mind in order that we might learn and receive help from him, not in order that the mind should be selfsufficient. Eyes are beautiful and useful, but if they choose to see without light, their beauty is useless and may even be harmful. Likewise, if my soul chooses to see without the Spirit, it becomes a danger to itself.

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John Chrysostom

AD 407

The man who can see sees everything which belongs to the blind man, but no blind person can tell what he is doing. Likewise, we who believe can understand both our own affairs and those of unbelievers, but they are helpless when it comes to trying to understand us.

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John Chrysostom

AD 407

It is necessary then to lay it aside first. What then, some man will say; is the wisdom from without stigmatized? And yet it is the work of God. How is this clear? Since He made it not, but it was an invention of yours. For in this place he calls by the term wisdom curious research and superfluous elegance of words. But should any one say that he means the human understanding; even in this sense the fault is yours. For you bring a bad name upon it, who makest a bad use of it; who to the injury and thwarting of God demandest from it things which indeed it never had. Since then you boast therein and fightest with God, He has exposed its weakness. For strength of body also is an excellent thing, but when Cain used it not as he ought, God disabled him and made him tremble Genesis 4:12-14. Septuagint. sighing and trembling, rec. ver. fugitive and vagabond. Wine also is a good thing; but because the Jews indulged in it immoderately, God prohibited the priests entirely from the use of the fru... Read More

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Tatian the Assyrian

AD 180

And only by those whom the Spirit of God dwells in and fortifies are the bodies of the demons easily seen, not at all by others,-I mean those who possess only soul;

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Tertullian of Carthage

AD 220

To man; then especially good, when not good in man's judgment; then especially unique, when He seems to man to be two or more. Now, if from the very first "the natural man, not receiving the things of the Spirit of God". because he is overshadowed with the power of God,-a point concerning which there is a question between us and the carnally-minded. With reference to Christ and the Church, and no longer being "capable of the things which were the Spirit's"

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Urbanus I

AD 230

We receive of the Holy Spirit in order that we may be made spiritual; for the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God.

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