1 Corinthians 2:14 - Spiritual Wisdom!

1Cor.2:14 - Spiritual Wisdom!

1 Cor 2:14 (KJV)  But the natural man receiveth not the things
of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither
can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

1 Cor 2:14 (EAV)  But the natural, nonspiritual man does not
accept or welcome or admit into his heart the gifts and teachings and
revelations of the Spirit of God, for they are folly (meaningless nonsense)
to him; and he is incapable of knowing them [of progressively
recognizing, understanding, and becoming better acquainted with them] because
they are spiritually discerned and estimated and appreciated.

1 Cor 2:14 (CWB)  Most people are not interested in what God is
trying to tell them.  It doesn't make sense to them and it seems
foolish because it can be understood only under the guidance of the Holy
Spirit.

1 Cor 2:14 (TLB)  But the man who isn't a Christian can't
understand and can't accept these thoughts from God, which the Holy Spirit
teaches us. They sound foolish to him because only those who have the
Holy Spirit within them can understand what the Holy Spirit means.
Others just can't take it in.

The natural man, a man who is not spiritual-minded; one
unregenerate, whose interests are confined to the things of this life. Such a
man depends on human wisdom for the solution of all his problems. He
lives to please himself and to gratify the desires of the unconverted
heart, hence is incapable of understanding and appreciating the things
of God. To him the plan of salvation, the wonderful revelation of
God's love, is folly. He cannot distinguish between worldly philosophy
and spiritual truth because the wisdom of God is understood only by
those who permit themselves to be taught by the Holy Spirit. [SDA
Commentary]

The natural man, the man governed by his rational mind and
intellect. The non-Christian has at best only the aid of his human
intellect and emotions, and at worst is actively beset by the evil spirit,
which runs counter to the Spirit of God. they are foolishness unto
him--The words of the Spirit are as incomprehensible to the natural man
as a foreign language without an interpreter. He simply lacks the
necessary equipment for receiving the message. [Jamieson, Fausset, And
Brown Commentary mod]

Because the Spirit's words have been "enscripturated"--written
down--anyone can read them. But reading, or even hearing this secret wisdom
expounded, does not mean that the natural man will understand or accept the
divine wisdom! It is only those who possess the Spirit who will
understand, for the Spirit who inspired the words must reside within to
interpret them appropriately if God's wisdom is to profit us. [Victor
Bible Background Commentary]

"Expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words" 1 Cor. 2:13-14.
Translators have struggled with the meaning of the Greek word synkrinontes,
translated "expressing" in the NIV. It's better to take it as "bringing
together." The Holy Spirit, who inspired the words of Scripture, lives in
us, and enables us to accept and apply spiritual truth. He "brings
together" the words and their meaning in ways that those without the
Spirit simply cannot grasp. For they do not "accept the things that
come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him" (v.
14).
I remember going once to a general assembly meeting of the
United Nations in New York. Each seat had its earphones, with several
channels. A speaker could use his own language, and if I turned to the
English language channel, I could hear a running translation. This is
what Paul was saying here. Scripture speaks a language that is
foreign to humankind. Only a person with the Spirit, God's translator,
can understand what is really being said.
When you read Scripture, be sure to ask God's Spirit to "bring
together" its meaning for your life. [The 365-Day Devotional Commentary]

A man who thinks that nothing is more important than the
satisfaction of the sex urge cannot understand the meaning of chastity; a man
who ranks the amassing of material things as the supreme end of life
cannot understand generosity; and a man who has never a thought beyond
this world cannot understand the things of God. To him they look mere
foolishness.  No man need be like this; but if he stifles "the immortal
longings" that are in his soul he may make himself like this so that the
Spirit of God will speak and he will not hear. [Barclay Commentary]

The greatest foolishness is to reject Jesus Christ. The "deep
things of God" refers to God's unfathomable nature and his wonderful
plan--Jesus' resurrection--and to the promise of salvation, revealed only to
those who believe that what God says is true. Those who believe in the
resurrection and put their faith in Christ will know all they need to know to
be saved. This knowledge, however, can't be grasped by even the
wisest people unless they accept God's message. All who reject God's
message are foolish, no matter how wise the world thinks they are. [Life
Application SB]

God cannot give until a man asks. It is not that He withholds,
but that that is the way He has constituted things on the basis of
Redemption. By means of our asking, God gets processes into work whereby He
creates the thing that is not in existence until we do ask. The inner
reality of Redemption is that it creates all the time. As the Redemption
creates the life of God in us, so it creates the things belonging to
that life. Nothing can satisfy the need but that which created the
need. This is the meaning of Redemption - it creates and it satisfies.
[My Utmost for His Highest by Chambers, Oswald]

The preaching of the word will be of no avail without the
continual presence and aid of the Holy Spirit. This is the only effectual
teacher of divine truth. Only when the truth is accompanied to the heart
by the Spirit will it quicken the conscience or transform the life.
One might be able to present the letter of the word of God, he might
be familiar with all its commands and promises; but unless the Holy
Spirit sets home the truth, no souls will fall on the Rock and be
broken. No amount of education, no advantages, however great, can make
one a channel of light without the co-operation of the Spirit of
God. The sowing of the gospel seed will not be a success unless the
seed is quickened into life by the dew of heaven. DA671,2

Those who do not learn every day in the school of Christ, who do
not spend much time in earnest prayer, are not fit to handle the
work of God in any of its branches; for if they do, human depravity
will surely overcome them and they will lift up their souls unto
vanity. Those who become co-workers with Jesus Christ, and who have
spirituality to discern spiritual things, will feel their need of virtue and
of wisdom from Heaven in handling His work. There are some who
neither burn nor shine, yet are contented. They are in a wretchedly cold
and indifferent condition, TM169

The people of the world have a great deal of knowledge, but they
lack spiritual wisdom. [Wiersbe Expository Outlines]

Things long hidden are now revealed by the illuminating work of
the Holy Spirit, not by human wisdom. [New Bible Companion]

The Holy spirit does not work with men who love to be sharp and
critical. TM248

Those who believe the truth are to be newly converted every day.
Then they will be vessels unto honor.  TM248