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1 Corinthians 2 · a question people ask

"Now the natural man doesn’t receive the things of God’s Spirit" (2:14). Who is the natural man?

In the text

The verse says what he doesn't do, and why: he "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" (2:14). The next verse sets beside him "he who is spiritual" (2:15). The chapter names no one as either. These notes name no one either, and give neither word another name.

The verses

“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. But he who is spiritual discerns all things, and he himself is to be judged by no one.”
1 Corinthians 2:14-15 · World English Bible

From Favor's study of 1 Corinthians 2

1 Corinthians 2: Jesus Christ and him crucified

The foolishness of 2:14 is the noun the letter used in "the word of the cross is foolishness" (1:18). And the chapter that says "For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified." (2:2) ends, "But we have Christ’s mind." (2:16).

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Last reviewed October 8, 2026. Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain. Every answer cites the verses it rests on. What we believe · All Bible questions