Ἃ καὶ λαλοῦμεν οὐκ ἐν διδακτοῖς ἀνθρωπίνης σοφίας λόγοις, ἀλλ’ ἐν διδακτοῖς Πνεύματος ἁγίου, πνευματικοῖς πνευματικὰ συγκρίνοντες. ψυχικὸς δὲ ἄνθρωπος οὐ δέχεται τὰ τοῦ Πνεύματος τοῦ Θεοῦ· μωρία γὰρ αὐτῷ ἐστι, καὶ οὐ δύναται γνῶναι, ὅτι πνευματικῶς ἀνακρίνεται. (1 Corinthians 2:13–14)
Which also we speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Holy Spirit, combining spiritual things with spiritual. But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness to him, and he is not able to know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
Exegetical Analysis
Paul’s sentence opens with a relative pronoun ἃ (“which”), linking back to the divine wisdom mentioned earlier. The verb λαλοῦμεν (“we speak”) is in the present active indicative, suggesting ongoing apostolic proclamation. The contrast is sharply drawn through two instrumental clauses: οὐκ ἐν διδακτοῖς ἀνθρωπίνης σοφίας λόγοις versus ἀλλ’ ἐν διδακτοῖς Πνεύματος ἁγίου. The former refers to rhetoric taught by human wisdom, the latter to Spirit-taught speech. The participial phrase πνευματικοῖς πνευματικὰ συγκρίνοντες presents an interpretive challenge. Both πνευματικοῖς and πνευματικὰ are from the same root (pneuma), and the participle συγκρίνοντες (from συγκρίνω) may mean “comparing,” “interpreting,” or “combining.” The second verse shifts focus: the ψυχικὸς ἄνθρωπος (natural/unspiritual person) cannot accept (οὐ δέχεται) or know (γνῶναι) the things of the Spirit, which are described as μωρία—“foolishness.” The reason: they are πνευματικῶς ἀνακρίνεται—spiritually discerned or examined. The passage’s structure uses parallelism and contrast to dramatize the epistemological rupture between the natural and the spiritual.
Interpreting the Sacred Patterns
Paul establishes a dual epistemology — human versus divine. The verse does not attack reason itself but human wisdom when divorced from the Spirit. The participial clause πνευματικοῖς πνευματικὰ συγκρίνοντες functions almost like a theological cipher. One reading suggests “explaining spiritual truths to spiritual people”; another sees “interpreting spiritual realities in spiritual language.” The ambiguity may be intentional, reinforcing that this wisdom cannot be reduced to formula. In verse 14, ψυχικὸς is not merely secular or nonreligious, but someone who operates solely within the realm of the soul — mind, emotion, will — without spiritual illumination. Paul insists such a person οὐ δύναται γνῶναι — is not able to know the things of God. The implication is not a moral failing but an ontological limitation. The contrast is sharp: Spirit-taught speech vs. Spirit-rejected truth. One realm perceives glory; the other sees nonsense. Paul reframes cognition itself as dependent on grace.
Where Word Meets Worship
This passage invites a radical humility: if we know anything of God, it is because He has chosen to reveal it by His Spirit. The phrase διδακτοῖς Πνεύματος ἁγίου declares that theology is not simply learned—it is imparted. The act of speech — λαλοῦμεν — becomes liturgical when governed by the Spirit. But the somber note comes in ψυχικὸς ἄνθρωπος οὐ δέχεται: there is resistance, blindness, incapacity. The very idea that divine truths are “foolishness” to the unspiritual should not provoke pride, but lament. This chasm can only be bridged by spiritual awakening. The text affirms that the Scriptures are not unlocked by intellect alone but by union with the Spirit who authored them. Preaching and teaching become spiritual acts, not intellectual performances. Worship is not merely expression, but reception—and that reception begins with divine teaching.
Exegetical Feature Table
| Greek Word | Form | Lexical Meaning | Interpretive Role | Exegetical Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| διδακτοῖς | Dative plural adjective | “taught” | Instrumental descriptor | Distinguishes divine instruction from human rhetoric |
| συγκρίνοντες | Present active participle, nominative plural | “combining,” “comparing,” or “interpreting” | Participial clause | Ambiguous, likely emphasizes spiritual coherence and clarity |
| ψυχικὸς ἄνθρωπος | Nominative masculine singular | “natural/unspiritual man” | Subject of rejection | Represents humanity unilluminated by the Spirit |
| πνευματικῶς ἀνακρίνεται | Present passive indicative 3rd singular | “is discerned spiritually” | Explains the means of understanding | Highlights that divine truths are spiritually perceived, not empirically |
Truth That Can Only Be Taught by God
There are truths in this world that only God can teach. Paul’s words cut sharply: human cleverness cannot decode divine wisdom. The Spirit does not merely assist interpretation; He makes it possible. This is why Paul doesn’t boast in eloquence but in revelation. He speaks what the Spirit teaches, not what philosophy constructs. The natural person cannot receive because the signal is spiritual—it requires a tuned receiver. This passage is not an anti-intellectual rant; it is a recalibration of where knowing begins. The telos of Scripture is not mastery, but communion. And communion is not earned—it is gifted by the Spirit who leads us into all truth, sometimes in silence, sometimes in trembling speech, always in light. To speak truly of God, we must first be taught by Him.
