Natural Man in 1 Corinthians 2:14-15
First Corinthians 2:14 states, "The natural man does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God. For they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned" (BSB) [3]. This verse, along with the subsequent verse, 1 Corinthians 2:15, which speaks of the "spiritual man," forms a crucial part of Paul's argument concerning the reception of divine wisdom versus human wisdom.
The immediate context of 1 Corinthians 2 involves Paul contrasting the wisdom of God with the wisdom of the world. He emphasizes that his preaching did not rely on "persuasive words of wisdom" but on "demonstration of the Spirit and of power" (1 Corinthians 2:4, BSB). This sets the stage for understanding why certain individuals cannot grasp spiritual truths.
The term "natural man" translates the Greek word psychikos [5]. This term refers to a person governed by the psyche, or "animal soul," as opposed to the pneuma, or "spirit" [5]. The Jamieson, Fausset & Brown commentary explains that this "natural man" is contrasted with the "spiritual man" and is "governed by the animal soul, which overbears his spirit, which latter is without the Spirit of God" [5]. This concept is also seen in 1 Corinthians 15:44, which speaks of a "natural body" (sōma psychikon) versus a "spiritual body" (sōma pneumatikon) [2, 5]. John Gill further clarifies that the "natural man" is not merely an unregenerate person openly given to sensual pleasures, but can also refer to the "wise philosopher, the Scribe, the disputer of this world" who lacks spiritual understanding [6].
The core issue for the natural man is an inability to "receive" or "understand" the things of God's Spirit because they are "foolishness to him" [1, 3]. This inability stems from the fact that these truths are "spiritually discerned" [1, 3]. Without the indwelling Holy Spirit, a person lacks the necessary faculty to comprehend divine revelation. This distinction highlights a fundamental difference in how spiritual truths are apprehended, emphasizing that human intellect alone is insufficient [6]. The "Treasury of Scripture Knowledge" cross-references for 1 Corinthians 2:14 include John 7:17, which speaks of knowing doctrine if one wills to do God's will, and Proverbs 28:5, which states that evil men do not understand justice, but those who seek the Lord understand everything [4].
In contrast to the natural man, 1 Corinthians 2:15 states, "The spiritual man discerns all things, yet he himself is understood by no one" (BSB). This "spiritual man" possesses the Spirit of God, enabling him to judge or evaluate spiritual matters [5]. This discernment allows for an understanding of divine truths that remains inaccessible to those without the Spirit.
Sources
- 1 Corinthians “Now the natural man doesn’t receive the things of God’s Spirit, for they are foolishness to him, and he can’t know them, because they are spiritually discerned. -- 1 Corinthians 2:14”
- I Corinthians “I Corinthians 15:44 (Tyndale) — Ther is a naturall bodye and ther is a spretuall body:”
- I Corinthians “I Corinthians 2:14 (BSB) — The natural man does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God. For they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.”
- Treasury of Scripture Knowledge “1 Corinthians 2:15 cross-references: 2 Samuel 12:16, 2 Samuel 14:17, 1 Kings 3:9, Psalms 25:14, Proverbs 28:5, Ecclesiastes 8:5, John 7:17, Acts 15:1, Acts 16:3, 1 Corinthians 3:1, 1 Corinthians 4:5, 1 Corinthians 14:37, Galatians 2:3, Galatians 6:1, Ephesians 4:13, Philippians 1:10, Colossians 1:9, 1 Thessalonians 5:21, Hebrews 5:14, 1 John 4:1”
- 1 Corinthians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Corinthians 2:14: natural man--literally, "a man of animal soul." As contrasted with the spiritual man, he is governed by the animal soul, which overbears his spirit, which latter is without the Spirit of God (Jde 1:19). So the animal (English Version, "natural") body, or body led by the lower animal nature (including both the mere human fallen reason and heart), is contrasted with the Spirit-quickened body (Co1 15:44-46). The carnal man (the man led by bodily appetites, and also by a self-exalting spirit, estranged from the divine life) is closely akin; so too t”
- 1 Corinthians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 1 Corinthians 2:13: But the natural man,.... Not a babe in Christ, one that is newly born again, for though such have but little knowledge of spiritual things, yet they have a taste, and do relish and desire, and receive the sincere milk of the word, and grow thereby; but an unregenerate man, that has no knowledge at all of such things; not an unregenerate man only, who is openly and notoriously profane, abandoned to sensual lusts and pleasures; though such a man being sensual, and not having the Spirit, must be a natural man; but rather the wise philosopher, the Scribe, the dispu”