1 Corinthians 2:15
The spiritual man judges all things, but he himself is not subject to anyone's judgment.
The spiritual man
The term "spiritual man" refers to an individual who is guided by the Holy Spirit. In Greek, the word for "spiritual" is "pneumatikos," which implies being influenced or controlled by the Spirit of God. This person is contrasted with the "natural man" mentioned earlier in the chapter, who does not accept the things of the Spirit. The spiritual man has a deep, intimate relationship with God, allowing him to discern and understand spiritual truths that are hidden from those who rely solely on human wisdom.

judges all things
The Greek word for "judges" is "anakrino," which means to examine, investigate, or scrutinize. This does not imply a judgmental attitude but rather a discerning and evaluative approach to life. The spiritual man, through the guidance of the Holy Spirit, is able to assess and understand all things, particularly spiritual matters. This ability to judge is not based on human wisdom but on divine insight, allowing the believer to navigate life with a godly perspective.

but he himself is not subject to anyone’s judgment
This phrase highlights the unique position of the spiritual man. While he can discern and evaluate all things, he is not subject to the judgment of those who do not possess the Spirit. The Greek word for "subject to" is "anakrinetai," which is the passive form of "anakrino," indicating that the spiritual man is not to be scrutinized or evaluated by those who lack spiritual understanding. This does not mean that the spiritual man is above accountability but rather that his spiritual insights and actions, guided by the Holy Spirit, cannot be fully comprehended or judged by those who do not share the same spiritual discernment. This reflects the transformative power of the Holy Spirit in the believer's life, setting them apart in wisdom and understanding.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Paul the Apostle
The author of 1 Corinthians, addressing the church in Corinth, a city known for its diverse culture and moral challenges.

2. The Church in Corinth
A Christian community in a cosmopolitan city, struggling with issues of division, immorality, and spiritual immaturity.

3. Spiritual Man
Refers to a person who is guided by the Holy Spirit, possessing spiritual discernment.

4. Natural Man
Although not directly mentioned in this verse, the context contrasts the spiritual man with the natural man, who lacks spiritual discernment.

5. Judgment
The act of discerning or evaluating, particularly in a spiritual context.
Teaching Points
Spiritual Discernment
The spiritual man has the ability to discern and evaluate all things through the guidance of the Holy Spirit. This discernment is not based on human wisdom but on spiritual insight.

Freedom from Human Judgment
While the spiritual man can judge all things, he is not subject to human judgment. This is because his life is aligned with God's will, and his actions are guided by the Spirit.

Living by the Spirit
To be a spiritual man, one must live by the Spirit, allowing the Holy Spirit to guide thoughts, actions, and decisions. This requires a daily commitment to prayer, scripture, and obedience to God's leading.

The Role of Humility
Spiritual discernment should be exercised with humility, recognizing that it is a gift from God and not a result of personal merit.

Accountability to God
Ultimately, the spiritual man is accountable to God, who is the righteous judge. This perspective helps maintain integrity and faithfulness in all areas of life.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the concept of the "spiritual man" in 1 Corinthians 2:15 challenge your current understanding of spiritual maturity?

2. In what ways can you cultivate spiritual discernment in your daily life, according to Galatians 5:16-25?

3. How does Romans 8:5-9 help you understand the difference between living according to the Spirit and living according to the flesh?

4. Reflect on a situation where you had to make a judgment. How can John 7:24 guide you in making righteous judgments in the future?

5. How can you seek God's wisdom, as encouraged in James 1:5, to enhance your spiritual discernment and decision-making?
Connections to Other Scriptures
1 Corinthians 2:14
This verse contrasts the spiritual man with the natural man, who cannot understand spiritual things because they are spiritually discerned.

Galatians 5:16-25
Discusses living by the Spirit and the fruit of the Spirit, which aligns with the characteristics of the spiritual man.

Romans 8:5-9
Explores the mindset of those who live according to the Spirit versus those who live according to the flesh.

John 7:24
Encourages righteous judgment, which is possible for the spiritual man.

James 1:5
Promises wisdom to those who ask God, a key aspect of spiritual discernment.
The Judging FacultyJ. Waite 1 Corinthians 2:15
True WisdomE. Hurndall 1 Corinthians 2:6-16
The Holy Spirit as the RevealerH. Bremner 1 Corinthians 2:10-16
The Natural and the Spiritual ManR. Tuck 1 Corinthians 2:14, 15
Natural Man and Spiritual ManC. Lipscomb 1 Corinthians 2:14-16
Authority in Matters of ReligionC. Gore, M. A.1 Corinthians 2:15-16
Spiritual JudgmentC. Hodge, D. D.1 Corinthians 2:15-16
Spiritual JudgmentJ. Ker, D. D.1 Corinthians 2:15-16
The Certainty and Solidity of the Experience of Christian BelieversJ. Lyth, D. D.1 Corinthians 2:15-16
The Christly SpiritJ. Harries.1 Corinthians 2:15-16
The Mind of ChristD. Thomas, D. D.1 Corinthians 2:15-16
The Mind of ChristJ. Vaughan, M. A.1 Corinthians 2:15-16
The Mind of God IsJ. Lyth, D. D.1 Corinthians 2:15-16
The Spiritual FacultyBishop Temple.1 Corinthians 2:15-16
The Spiritual ManJ. Lyth D. D.1 Corinthians 2:15-16
The Spiritual ManJ. Lyth, D. D.1 Corinthians 2:15-16
The Spiritual ManJ. Lyth, D. D.1 Corinthians 2:15-16
The Spiritual Man Unknown to the WorldW. Jay.1 Corinthians 2:15-16
People
Corinthians, Paul
Places
Corinth
Topics
Although, Appraised, Appraises, Discern, Discerned, Discerns, Indeed, Judged, Judges, Judgeth, Judging, Judgment, Judgments, Makes, Man's, Spirit, Spiritual, Subject, Though, Yet
Dictionary of Bible Themes
1 Corinthians 2:6-16

     1180   God, wisdom of

1 Corinthians 2:9-16

     8164   spirituality

1 Corinthians 2:10-16

     5345   influence

1 Corinthians 2:11-16

     5037   mind, of Christ

1 Corinthians 2:12-16

     3236   Holy Spirit, and Scripture
     8227   discernment, nature of
     8330   receptiveness

1 Corinthians 2:14-16

     3248   Holy Spirit, conviction

Library
May the Thirtieth Finding the Deep Things
"The Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God." --1 CORINTHIANS ii. 7-12. The deep things of God cannot be discovered by unaided reason. "Eye hath not seen:" they are not to be apprehended by the artistic vision. "Ear hath not heard:" they are not unveiled amid the discussion of the philosophic schools. "Neither hath entered into the heart of man:" even poetic insight cannot discern them. All the common lights fail in this realm. We need another illumination, even that provided
John Henry Jowett—My Daily Meditation for the Circling Year

November the Eighth the Organ of Spiritual vision
1 CORINTHIANS ii. 9-16. Our finest human instruments fail to obtain for us "the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him." Art fails! "Eye hath not seen." The merely artistic vision is blind to the hidden glories of grace. Philosophy fails! "Neither hath ear heard." We may listen to the philosopher as he spins his subtle theories and weaves his systematic webs, but the meshes he has woven are not fine enough to catch "the deep things of God." Poetry fails! "Neither hath it entered
John Henry Jowett—My Daily Meditation for the Circling Year

The Apostle's Theme
'I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.'--1 COR. ii. 2. Many of you are aware that to-day I close forty years of ministry in this city--I cannot say to this congregation, for there are very, very few that can go back with me in memory to the beginning of these years. You will bear me witness that I seldom intrude personal references into the pulpit, but perhaps it would be affectation not to do so now. Looking back over these long years, many thoughts
Alexander Maclaren—Romans, Corinthians (To II Corinthians, Chap. V)

Heaven
I have hinted that this passage is most commonly applied to heaven, and I shall myself also so apply it in some measure, this morning. But any one who reads the connexion will discover that the apostle is not talking about heaven at all. He is only speaking of this--that the wisdom of this world is not able to discover the things of God--that the merely carnal mind is not able to know the deep spiritual things of our most holy religion. He says, "We speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 2: 1856

Natural or Spiritual?
This morning I propose--and O that God the Holy Spirit may bear witness in our hearts!--I propose, first of all, to dwell a little while upon the great truth that natural men do not receive the things of the Spirit of God, but count them foolishness; in the second place, I shall show, for a moment only, that the reason of the rejection of the things of God cannot be because they are really foolish, for they are not so; thirdly, we shall come to the inference that the reason why the natural man rejects
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 7: 1861

1 Corinthians ii. 12
We have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is of God. And, therefore, he goes on to say, our language is different from that of others, and not always understood by them; the natural man receiveth not the things of God, for they are foolishness unto him; neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. That is, they are discerned only by a faculty which he has not, namely, by the Spirit; and, therefore, as beings devoid of reason cannot understand the truths
Thomas Arnold—The Christian Life

My Life in Christ
MY LIFE IN CHRIST or Moments of Spiritual Serenity and Contemplation, of Reverent Feeling, of Earnest Self-Amendment, and of Peace in God: EXTRACTS FROM THE DIARY OF ST. JOHN OF KRONSTADT (ARCHPRIEST JOHN ILIYTCH SERGIEFF) Translated, with the Author's sanction, from the Fourth and Supplemented Edition BY E. E. GOULAEFF, ST. PETERSBURG NOTE. I do not precede my book by any introduction: let it speak for itself. Everything contained in it is but a gracious enlightenment which was bestowed upon my
John Calvin—My Life in Christ

The Personality of the Holy Spirit.
Before one can correctly understand the work of the Holy Spirit, he must first of all know the Spirit Himself. A frequent source of error and fanaticism about the work of the Holy Spirit is the attempt to study and understand His work without first of all coming to know Him as a Person. It is of the highest importance from the standpoint of worship that we decide whether the Holy Spirit is a Divine Person, worthy to receive our adoration, our faith, our love, and our entire surrender to Himself,
R. A. Torrey—The Person and Work of The Holy Spirit

No Minister Ought to Keep a Faithful Person from the Communion, that Does Desire and Ask It, Whilst He Doth not Know his Conscience Defiled with Mortal Sin.
The Council of Trent, treating of the Preparation which Priests and Layman ought to make for the worthy Receiving of the Holy Eucharist, hath these following words, (Sess. 13, Cap. 17.) The Custom of the Church makes it clear, that Examination and Proof is necessary in order to the Communion; that no man, knowing himself guilty of mortal Sin, though he may seem Contrite to himself, come to the Sacrament, unless he have before been at Sacramental Confession. Which comprehends all Christians, and even
Miguel de Molinos—The Spiritual Guide which Disentangles the Soul

And These Signs are Sufficient to Prove that the Faith of Christ Alone Is...
80. And these signs are sufficient to prove that the faith of Christ alone is the true religion. But see! you still do not believe and are seeking for arguments. We however make our proof "not in the persuasive words of Greek wisdom [1128] " as our teacher has it, but we persuade by the faith which manifestly precedes argumentative proof. Behold there are here some vexed with demons;'--now there were certain who had come to him very disquieted by demons, and bringing them into the midst he said,--Do
Athanasius—Select Works and Letters or Athanasius

Letter xv (Circa A. D. 1129) to Alvisus, Abbot of Anchin
To Alvisus, Abbot of Anchin He praises the fatherly gentleness of Alvisus towards Godwin. He excuses himself, and asks pardon for having admitted him. To Alvisus, Abbot of Anchin. [18] 1. May God render to you the same mercy which you have shown towards your holy son Godwin. I know that at the news of his death you showed yourself unmindful of old complaints, and remembering only your friendship for him, behaved with kindness, not resentment, and putting aside the character of judge, showed yourself
Saint Bernard of Clairvaux—Some Letters of Saint Bernard, Abbot of Clairvaux

Of Certain Outward Temptations and Appearances of Satan. Of the Sufferings Thereby Occasioned. Counsels for those who Go On
Unto Perfection. 1. Now that I have described certain temptations and troubles, interior and secret, of which Satan was the cause, I will speak of others which he wrought almost in public, and in which his presence could not be ignored. [1] 2. I was once in an oratory, when Satan, in an abominable shape, appeared on my left hand. I looked at his mouth in particular, because he spoke, and it was horrible. A huge flame seemed to issue out of his body, perfectly bright, without any shadow. He spoke
Teresa of Avila—The Life of St. Teresa of Jesus

Letter Lix. To Marcella.
An answer to five questions put to Jerome by Marcella in a letter not preserved. The questions are as follows. (1) What are the things which eye hath not seen nor ear heard (1 Cor. ii. 9)? Jerome answers that they are spiritual things which as such can only be spiritually discerned. (2) Is it not a mistake to identify the sheep and the goats of Christ's parable (Matt. xxv. 31 sqq.) with Christians and heathens? Are they not rather the good and the bad? For an answer to this question Jerome refers
St. Jerome—The Principal Works of St. Jerome

On the Words of the Gospel, John v. 25,"Verily, Verily, I Say unto You, the Hour Cometh, and Now Is, when the Dead Shall Hear The
1. Our hope, Brethren, is not of this present time, nor of this world, nor in that happiness whereby men are blinded that forget God. This ought we above all things to know, and in a Christian heart hold fast, that we were not made Christians for the good things of the present time, but for something else which God at once promiseth, and man doth not yet comprehend. For of this good it is said, "That eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither hath it entered into the heart of man, what things God
Saint Augustine—sermons on selected lessons of the new testament

"Seek First the Kingdom of God," &C.
Matt. vi. 33.--"Seek first the kingdom of God," &c. It may seem strange, that when so great things are allowed, and so small things are denied, that we do not seek them. The kingdom of God and his righteousness are great things indeed, great not only in themselves, but greater in comparison of us. The things of this world, even great events, are but poor, petty, and inconsiderable matters, when compared with these. Yet he graciously allows a larger measure of these great things relating to his kingdom
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

"That which we have Seen and Heard, Declare we unto You, that Ye Also May have Fellowship with Us,"
1 John i. 3.--"That which we have seen and heard, declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us," &c. There are many things that you desire to hear, and it may be are usually spoken of in public, which the generality of men's hearts are more carried after. But truly, I should wrong myself and you both if I should take upon me to discourse in these things, which, it may be, some desire, for direction or information concerning the times, for I can neither speak of them with so much
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

"Because the Carnal Mind is Enmity against God, for it is not Subject to the Law of God, Neither Indeed Can Be. "
Rom. viii. 7.--"Because the carnal mind is enmity against God, for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be." Unbelief is that which condemns the world. It involves in more condemnation than many other sins, not only because more universal, but especially because it shuts up men in their misery, and secludes them from the remedy that is brought to light in the gospel. By unbelief I mean, not only that careless neglect of Jesus Christ offered for salvation, but that which is the
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

Preface. And as to Christ Thy Lord
Preface. and as to Christ thy Lord, most comely "as the lily among thorns," being his "love among the daughters," Cant. ii. 2. so also, thou, in a special way, art the dearly beloved and longed for, the joy and crown, of every sincere servant of Christ in the gospel, Phil. iv. 1. Thou art, if not the only, yet the chief object of their labours, their work being either to confirm and strengthen thee in thy way, that thou mayest so stand fast in the Lord, or remove impediments, make crooked things
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

The Ministry of the New Covenant
"Ye are our epistle, written in our hearts, known and read of all men; being made manifest that ye are an epistle of Christ, ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God: not in tables of stone, but in tables that are hearts of flesh. And such confidence have we through Christ Godward: not that we are sufficient of ourselves, to account anything as from ourselves; but our sufficiency is from God: who also made us sufficient as ministers of a new covenant; not of the
Andrew Murray—The Two Covenants

The Book of the Covenant
"And Moses took the book of the covenant, and read in the audience of the people: and they said, All that the Lord hath said will we do and be obedient. And Moses took the blood, and sprinkled it on the people, and said, Behold the blood of the covenant, which the Lord hath made with you concerning all these words."-EX. xxiv. 7, 8; comp. HEB. ix. 18-20. HERE is a new aspect in which to regard God's blessed Book. Before Moses sprinkled the blood, he read the Book of the Covenant, and obtained the
Andrew Murray—The Two Covenants

The Death of the Righteous
'For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.' Phil 1:1I. Paul was a great admirer of Christ. He desired to know nothing but Christ, and him crucified. I Cor 2:2. No medicine like the blood of Christ; and in the text, For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.' I. For to me to live is Christ. We must understand Paul of a spiritual life. For to me to live is Christ, i.e.' Christ is my life; so Gregory of Nyssa; or thus, my life is made up of Christ. As a wicked man's life is made up of sin,
Thomas Watson—A Body of Divinity

These Discussions, Therefore, Concerning the Different Deserts of Married Women...
19. These discussions, therefore, concerning the different deserts of married women, and of different widows, I would not in this work enter upon, if, what I am writing unto you, I were writing only for you. But, since there are in this kind of discourse certain very difficult questions, it was my wish to say something more than what properly relates to you, by reason of certain, who seem not to themselves learned, unless they essay, not by passing judgment to discuss, but by rending to cut in pieces
St. Augustine—On the Good of Widowhood.

Links
1 Corinthians 2:15 NIV
1 Corinthians 2:15 NLT
1 Corinthians 2:15 ESV
1 Corinthians 2:15 NASB
1 Corinthians 2:15 KJV

1 Corinthians 2:15 Commentaries

Bible Hub
1 Corinthians 2:14
Top of Page
Top of Page