"The Whole Book"

Monday, July 27, 2026

#1669 1 Corinthians 3 Part 2 Materials

10 According to the grace of God which was given to me, like a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building on it. But each man must be careful how he builds on it. 11 For no one can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 13 each man’s work will become evident, for the day will indicate it because it is revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man’s work. 14 If any man’s work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward. 15 If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.

16 Do you not know that you are a sanctuary of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? 17 If any man destroys the sanctuary of God, God will destroy him, for the sanctuary of God is holy, and that is what you are. 1 Corinthians 3: 10-17 LSB

1 Corinthians 3: 10-17

V. 10 I laid a foundation, and another is building on it - Paul was the master builder, the planter, the one who not only made first contact, but helped them establish what a church structure looked like, in the case of the Corinthians this was in person for 1.5 years. He sowed the seed of the gospel, which took root in the soil which the Holy Spirit had tilled. The apostles were also foundational beyond what we know as church planting today, in that they also scribed the canon which is the foundation for our teaching in every age. Paul was using his gifts as an Apostle, an evangelist, to glorify Christ. Apollos came and further built upon this foundation, not contradicting the floor, but further enhancing their understanding through his gift of teaching.

…10As good stewards of the manifold grace of God, each of you should use whatever gift he has received to serve one another. 11If anyone speaks, he should speak as one conveying the words of God. If anyone serves, he should serve with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen. 12Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial that has come upon you, as though something strange were happening to you.… 1 Peter 4: 10-12

11Then Hiram king of Tyre wrote a letter in reply to Solomon: “Because the LORD loves His people, He has set you over them as king.” 12And Hiram added: “Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, who made the heavens and the earth! He has given King David a wise son with insight and understanding, who will build a temple for the LORD and a royal palace for himself. 13So now I am sending you Huram-abi, a skillful man endowed with creativity.… 2 Chronicles 2: 11-13

Vs. 10b-11 Each man must be careful how he builds on it - The Bible is clear that it is a single coin, one side is a man's life and the other his doctrine. I have grown up in churches and witnessed many kind, generous, and intelligent men, who seemed orderly in both family and business, yet taught things contrary to the word of God. The foundation is Christ, and that is what Paul laid and Apollos continued building with, but there are some who don't take the same care. People pleasers, the fun guy, easy going girls, all steer away from the foundation in order to stay in people's graces. They come up with schemes to get people into the church, to fill seats, and then must come up with even bigger schemes to get them to remain in those seats. The model is already set for us in Paul taking the gospel out to the world, and then Apollos watering that seed towards maturity. We never read of their programs, pizza parties, concerts or yoga classes, those things are all man focused and here we see the very foundation of the church is Christocentric. "For no one can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ."

…13For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ. 14And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. 15It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their actions.… 2 Corinthians 11: 13-15

1Now there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves. 2 Many will follow in their depravity, and because of them the way of truth will be defamed. 3In their greed, these false teachers will exploit you with deceptive words. The longstanding verdict against them remains in force, and their destruction does not sleep.… 2 Peter 2: 1-3

…11This Jesus is ‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.’ 12 Salvation exists in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” 13When they saw the boldness of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they marveled and took note that these men had been with Jesus.… Acts 4: 11-13

Vs. 12-13 The fire itself will test the quality of each man's work - In order to get the purest gold and silver you must put your prewashed nuggets or dust into a crucible, which is a container designed to handle high heat. When you heat up the gold it releases it's contaminants into a scum we call dross, that forms at the top of the metal. Once all the dross is removed you have pure gold. If what you built with was tested by fire and it came out as pure gold then you stayed with the Designer's intent, your work was good, but on the other end of the spectrum we have hay or straw, which would leave nothing. By not sticking with the original plans you gave people what they want, made a spectacle of yourself, and may have filled many a seat, but all that's left is a smudge, a carbon stain, a work done in vain.

1“Behold, I will send My messenger, who will prepare the way before Me. Then the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to His temple—the Messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight—see, He is coming,” says the LORD of Hosts. 2But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He will be like a refiner’s fire, like a launderer’s soap. 3And He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; He will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver. Then they will present offerings to the LORD in righteousness.… Malachi 3: 1-3

#1668 1 Corinthians 3 Part 1 Planters and Waterers

And I, brothers, was not able to speak to you as to spiritual men, but as to fleshly men, as to infants in Christ. 2 I gave you milk to drink, not solid food, for you were not yet able to receive it. Indeed, even now you are still not able, 3 for you are still fleshly. For since there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not fleshly, and are you not walking like mere men? 4 For when one says, “I am of Paul,” and another, “I am of Apollos,” are you not mere men?

5 What then is Apollos? And what is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, even as the Lord gave to each one. 6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth. 7 So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth. 8 Now he who plants and he who waters are one, but each will receive his own reward according to his own labor. 9 For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building. 1 Corinthians 3: 1-9 LSB

1 Corinthians 3: 1-9

Robert Murray McCheyne was a minister in Scotland in the last century. He was only thirty years old when he died, but he made an enormous spiritual impact on Scotland that still continues. He said, “It is not great talents God blesses so much as great likenesses to Jesus... A man cannot be a faithful minister until he preaches Christ for Christ’s sake, until he gives up striving to attract people to himself, and seeks only to attract them to Christ.” In this chapter we see how Paul embodied this principle. - Precept Austin

Was not able to speak to you as to spiritual men, but as to fleshly men - I will bring this up over and over again as we go through Paul's letter to the Corinthians. Every point that he addresses will be best and most clearly understood in light of this backdrop. The Body of Christ is divided here because of people holding onto carnality.

Could not speak to you as to spiritual men (pneumatikos) - Who are spiritual men in context? "He who is spiritual appraises (anakrino - present tense- continually examines carefully) all things." (1 Cor 2:15+) But these believers were not spiritual men, I like the way Wuest paraphrases it "was not able to speak to you as I would to those dominated by the Holy Spirit." (Eerdmans Publishing - used by permission)

MacArthur explains that the Corinthians "had come through the door of faith but had gone no farther. Most of them had received Jesus Christ years earlier but were acting as if they had just been born again....So a Christian is not characterized by sin (THAT IS BY A LIFESTYLE OF SIN); it no longer represents his basic nature. But he is still able to sin, and his sin is just as sinful as the sin of an unbeliever. Sin is sin. When a Christian sins, he is being practically unspiritual, living on the same practical level as an unbeliever. Consequently Paul is compelled to speak to the Corinthian believers much as if they were unbelievers" (See context in 1 CorinthiansCommentary)

It is interesting that a number of commentaries interpret Paul's initial description in 1 Cor 3:1-2 as applying primarily to the Corinthians present immature condition. But if one reads the text carefully, it actually describes Paul's original visit to Corinth, when he gave sinners the pure milk of the Gospel and they became saints (1 Cor 1:2+), born again by the Spirit. He continued to give them milk (for 18 months) which would be expected since they were still spiritual infants, so to speak. Just as newborn babies cannot eat solid food, newborn believers cannot eat solid food. Of course, while 1 Cor 3:1-2 describes a past event, in context, Paul is clearly using their past experience to help them (and us) understand their present spiritual state, some 4-5 years later. - PA

1Brothers, if someone is caught in a trespass, you who are spiritual should restore him with a spirit of gentleness. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. 2Carry one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. 3If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.… Galatians 6: 1-3

1 We who are strong ought to bear with the shortcomings of the weak and not to please ourselves. 2Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.… Romans 15: 1-2

…13In love, hold them in highest regard because of their work. Live in peace with one another. 14And we urge you, brothers, to admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, and be patient with everyone. 15Make sure that no one repays evil for evil. Always pursue what is good for one another and for all people.… 1 Thessalonians 5: 13-15

V. 2 Not solid food - This was understandable in the natural succession of their spirituality. You are born again, so you start out as a babe in Christ. You would be given the pure milk of the gospel, the basic doctrines, and continue growing through study and obedience to the Word of God. What had kept them from moving past the point of milk, to the extent that Paul must go back to milk? There is a lot of admonishment going on here, and we would all best pay close attention, for it is easy to confuse oneself as outside of this, because you read a book on doctrine that was 800 pages long, so you think yourself a carnivore. You have a big library, and you think that is the meat to which he refers. There are others who "feel" spiritual and think that their meat is a host of wondrous, rapturous moments they experience caught up in their own high thoughts or while singing or dancing or being entertained. The Corinthians will even confuse the lesser gifts for a sign of spiritual maturity.

11We have much to say about this, but it is hard to explain, because you are dull of hearing. 12 Although by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to reteach you the basic principles of God’s word. You need milk, not solid food! 13For everyone who lives on milk is still an infant, inexperienced in the message of righteousness.… Hebrews 5: 11-13

V. 3 For you are still fleshly - My dad and many others love this passage for the idea of the carnal Christian, since Paul addresses them generally as brothers but also as carnal. In those sort of circles they stop short of the gist though, that Paul is correcting them, calling them out of infancy, for those who need to mature, but will also have them send the unrepentant away, in the hopes of their being broken and returning in repentance. Others will leave churches because they were never regenerate at all, but that is not always quickly apparent. The reason why they could not take solid food was because they were still fleshly.

18Children, it is the last hour; and just as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have appeared. This is how we know it is the last hour. 19They went out from us, but they did not belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us. But their departure made it clear that none of them belonged to us. 20You, however, have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth.… 1 John 2: 18-20

V. 3b For since there is jealousy and strife among you - What does your fleshliness look like? What is keeping you from growing, from maturing spiritually. Jealousy, and that comes from selfishness, even some of the greatest men have experienced it. The cure is to take your eyes off yourself. Quit praying only for things and start praying for change when it comes to you, not stuff that you think will make you feel happy, but pray for eyes that move away from you and onto Christ. Start praying more for others. Will a godly man or woman ever feel jealous? Absolutely, but look at this story and see how a godly man comes to meet it.

F. B. Meyer said when the young fellow came and the crowds began to throng and the crowds began to jam into buildings and they couldn't get a building big enough to hear him preach, he said, "My heart was filled with that old green-eyed monster, jealousy and envy. Here I am preaching in London on a pulpit in my throne, and I've been here these years and years."

F. B. Meyer: "the throngs are going to hear Charles Haddon Spurgeon, that young man, and I was filled with envy and jealousy;” and F. B. Meyer said, "I got down on my knees, and I said, oh, Lord God, I can't be this way. Take it out of my heart. Take it out of my soul.

"And oh, God bless that young fellow, Charles Haddon Spurgeon, that young fellow who's just come to our city, and may he have bigger crowds and may God bless him with greater power and may God give him greater fame and greater influence." And F. B. Meyer said, as I read it, F. B. Meyer says, "it wasn't long until every triumph of that young man I began to receive as though I had done it myself.

And I rejoiced in the throngs, and I rejoiced in his fame, and I rejoiced in his power and I rejoiced in God's favor upon him.” That is true and godly love. As Jonathan rejoiced and the king will be not Jonathan but David, but David.

An unselfish love—not I, but you, not for me but for you, not what I want but what you want, not what pleases me but what pleases you, and his soul was knit with David, and he loved him as he loved his own soul.

Strife is from the same place, from having your eyes on yourself and wanting others eyes on you, or wanting them to see you a certain way. Selfishness needs to have everything it's own way, and it is willing to die on hills so low they can barely be discerned.

V. 4 I am of Paul, and another, I am of Apollos - Look how important this point is, how prominent a place the Apostle gives it. He is back to the first chapter of his letter. If the Holy Spirit inspired Paul to repeat himself here then maybe it's for a reason. Maybe God knew the Corinthians didn't quite hear it the first time, but here it is, in the place of prominence that repetition provides. Remember the answer then? Get back to Christ. He didn't need you, so where did all this self importance come from? Where is your joy, your astonishment at His grace, why is the testimony of your church that goes out into the world that you are contentious and immature? Here is the setting again, the context for all that follows.

…11My brothers, some from Chloe’s household have informed me that there are quarrels among you. 12 What I mean is this: Individuals among you are saying, “I follow Paul,” “I follow Apollos,” “I follow Cephas,” or “I follow Christ.” 13Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized into the name of Paul?… 1 Corinthians 1: 11-13

Back to 1 Corinthians 1 The division

Vs. 5-9 He who plants and he who waters are one - So what are you fighting for? Both jobs were necessary, but God could raise planters and waterers out of the rocks, so why are you strutting the yard? We are so vain, people who don't make themselves yet need to be recognized for everything. It is the Spirit Who brings life, Who causes growth. That God brings us into His work is all part of the same grace that saved us, completely unmerited.

Now he who plants (present tense = continually - ministry is NOT "one and done!") and he who waters (present tense = continually) are one - He who plants is Paul's self-description, for it was his proclamation (casting out) of the "seed" of the Word, the Gospel of Jesus Christ, which the Holy Spirit used to birth the Corinthians into the Kingdom of God (cf Jn 3:3+) and in effect plant the Church in Corinth. There was an interdependence (mutual dependence) in the ministries of Paul and Apollos. Farmers plant and there is a drought the crops fail. Paul says there was no "water" shortage here. So both men were needed and neither deserved to be lauded over the other. He who waters alludes to Apollos who followed up Paul's ministry in Corinth with his eloquent teaching, viewed here as his dispensing the "water of the Word." (cf Eph 5:26+). The point of oneness is that there was harmony, not competition. Does that describe your ministry beloved? Or are you jealous of how big the other fellow's church is, etc? One is the Greek word heis which is the first cardinal numeral and signifies that which is united as one in contrast with being divided or consisting of separate parts. In other words, while Paul and Apollos had different functions (plants, waters), picturing separate and distinct ministries, they were still viewed as a unit and one which functioned synergistically, working together in harmony. If the saints at Corinth would begin to grasp the significance of the oneness of the work/ministries of Paul and Apollos, party bickering would be minimized.

But each will receive his own reward according to his own labor (kopos) - Paul is saying that individual ministries are important and call for faithfulness and hard work. And the reward is proportionate to the labor for each individual. Notice own reward...own labor signifying that the reward will be as we might say today "personalized," or suited to each person's labor. Notice Paul does does not use the Greek word ergon for work, but the word (kopos) which describes labor which is toilsome, wearying and even sorrowful at times (if you are a pastor, you are probably saying "amen" to that statement!). Spirit filled ministry (while being supernaturally energized) involves human responsibility which in turn is associated with trouble and toil (just as Paul is illustrating in the very letter we are reading)!

God rewards on the basis of labor, not success or results.

-- John MacArthur - PA

#1667 1 Corinthians 2 Part 2 Depth Finder

10 But to us God revealed them through the Spirit, for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God. 11 For who among men knows the depths of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so the depths of God no one knows except the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the depths graciously given to us by God, 13 of which depths we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual depths with spiritual words.

14 But a natural man does not accept the depths of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually examined. 15 But he who is spiritual examines all things, yet he himself is examined by no one. 16 For who has known the mind of the Lord, that he will direct Him? But we have the mind of Christ. 1 Corinthians 2: 10-16 LSB

1 Corinthians 2: 10-16

16For we did not follow cleverly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty. 17For He received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to Him from the Majestic Glory, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” 18And we ourselves heard this voice from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain.…

…19We also have the word of the prophets as confirmed beyond doubt. And you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. 20Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture comes from one’s own interpretation. 21For no such prophecy was ever brought forth by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.… 2 Peter 1: 16-21

V. 10 But to us God revealed them through the Spirit - The learned, the rulers, and the uneducated, were all on a level playing field when it came to the vision of the cross. The Jewish elite abhorred the site of it because they trusted in their wealth, the Pharisees in their religious system, the things they had added to the law, their work arounds. Even the less educated fishermen had come to trust in the words of their favorite teachers, the sort of calm that a Roman Catholic gets from trusting in his priest. They found solace in being related to Abraham, in tracing their genealogy, in following some rules. Neither Jew nor Greek would naturally look upon the cross and see it's shear beauty, none would know that here hangs the Lord of Glory, that is God, and salvation. This takes us back to John 3 again; you must be born again. Otherwise you will continue to be disgusted, think yourself not in need because you are a good person, or that only losers die. If He is God you say, then have Him come down from there, better yet, you say, don't even go there, just make my life easy.

More from John 3

Still More from John 3

Archibald Brown - "This text (1 Cor 2:10KJV) is vitally united, you will see, to the verse which precedes it, because this verse begins with 'but,' (ED: NAS = "FOR") and that rivets it to the prior verse — it is the outcome of it — and that prior verse (1 Cor 2:9) has, I suppose, suffered more from misquotation and misapplication than any other verse in inspired writ. (ED: I HAVE TO SAY "AMEN!") You know it well: 'Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God has prepared for them that love him.' That text is always handed over to Heaven, and it is read as if it taught that Heaven is such a beautiful, such a glorious place, that really we know nothing whatever about it; that no eye has ever seen, no ear has ever heard, and no heart can imagine, all the beautiful things that are stored up in an at present unseen Heaven.I need hardly say that Heaven was not in the apostle's mind when he penned the words. You will see that so far from teaching that these things are not to be seen or cannot be known, the apostle goes on to say, in the language of our text, which is never quoted (ED: THUS EMPHASIZING THE VITAL IMPORTANCE OF CONTEXT FOR ACCURATE INTERPRETATION), 'But God has revealed them.' 1 Cor 2:10KJV) What a pity it is to cry halt and pull up at the end of the ninth verse, and say, 'Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things that God has prepared for them that love him,' and not to go on to the next verse, 'But God has revealed them.' The simple teaching of the passage is this: that mere worldly wisdom can never understand spiritual teaching; that there must be a revelation made by God, and that the work of the Holy Spirit is to make clear to men what they never could learn, either through the eye, through the ear, or by the imagination. God has revealed these glories to us, because there is no other way in which we could acquire a knowledge of them but by revelation. Mental perception, however keen, is not enough; you cannot fathom eternal realities. God has to draw the veil over these beauties, and reveal the facts in Scripture — and then the Holy Spirit reveals the Scripture again to us. There is thus a double revelation — God revealing his truth in the Word, and then the Holy Spirit revealing the Word unto us. Is it not true that the eye does not see these things? Millions of eyes can see God's work — but they never see the Artificer; millions of ears can hear the voice of God — but they never recognize that which is spoken. God must be revealed to be known. - Precept Austin

Calvin - Having shut up all mankind in (spiritual) blindness, and having taken away from the human intellect the power of attaining to a knowledge of God by its own resources (Ed: Referring to special revelation, not natural revelation, to which all men have access - Ro 1:18-21 - so that all men are without excuse!), he now shows in what way believers are exempted from this blindness, — by the Lord’s honoring them with a special illumination of the Spirit. - PA

Vs. 11-12 The Spirit Who is from God - I can't read men's minds, their thoughts, and I cannot know the heart of God outside the Spirit. The Spirit inspired the prophets and the NT writers to pen the thoughts and will of God, and it is the same Spirit Who brings us to believe this, and to study and grow in these Words. This is in contrast to the Spirit of this World or the Age, which stands in defiance to the things of God, even denying His creative power.

…5This is what the LORD says: “Cursed is the man who trusts in mankind, who makes the flesh his strength and turns his heart from the LORD. 6He will be like a shrub in the desert; he will not see when prosperity comes. He will dwell in the parched places of the desert, in a salt land where no one lives. 7But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in Him.…

…8He is like a tree planted by the waters that sends out its roots toward the stream. It does not fear when the heat comes, and its leaves are always green. It does not worry in a year of drought, nor does it cease to produce fruit. 9The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? 10I, the LORD, search the heart; I examine the mind to reward a man according to his way, by what his deeds deserve.… Jeremiah 17: 5-10

…15From infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for instruction, for conviction, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17so that the man of God may be complete, fully equipped for every good work.… 2 Timothy 3: 15-17

V. 13 Of which depths we also speak - These are those depths freely given to us by God, the things He has made known to us. There are things I cannot understand due to human limitation, but that which was held in the dark by sin is vast and rich, and now that the power of sin is broken for me in Christ, I can search the profound riches of the gospel. We must take care in all these matters that we do not become puffed up, and remember that we are handling the very thoughts of God, and so mishandling would be a high crime.

…15Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, for to this you were called as members of one body. And be thankful. 16Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. 17And whatever you do, in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.… Colossians 3: 15-17

14Therefore, beloved, as you anticipate these things, make every effort to be found at peace—spotless and blameless in His sight. 15 Consider also that our Lord’s patience brings salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom God gave him. 16He writes this way in all his letters, speaking in them about such matters. Some parts of his letters are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction.… 2 Peter 3: 14-16

V. 14 But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit - He can't; he hasn't been born again. He can only bring more judgement on himself as he takes the mind that God made and tries to reason God out of His own creation. In the natural, that man may even come to see his mind, the intellect he didn't create, as the highest place of understanding. Others will carve idols from wood or stone, but the "intellectual" looks at everything that bares the earmarks of design and says, it wasn't. He believes that everything comes from nothing.

…18when they said to you, “In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow after their own ungodly desires.” 19These are the ones who cause divisions, who are worldly and devoid of the Spirit. 20But you, beloved, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit,…

…21keep yourselves in the love of God as you await the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you eternal life. 22And indeed, have mercy on those who doubt; 23save others by snatching them from the fire; and to still others show mercy tempered with fear, hating even the clothing stained by the flesh.… Jude 1: 18-23

But a natural (psuchikos) man - A natural man is an unsaved person, one who is unregenerate, devoid of the Spirit of God and who has only physical life, being spiritually dead (Eph 2:1+). In this passage Paul states that the only way a natural man can accept and understand the supernatural Word is via a supernatural Source, the Spirit of God Who is received when a natural man is born again (Ro 8:9+).

Brian Bell - The natural man can enjoy reading the majesty of the Old King James language of scripture; admire & feel the charm of the stories; even have a feeling of religiosity as he reads it. But he can’t “know” the scriptures! - Precept Austin

…20For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood from His workmanship, so that men are without excuse. 21For although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him, but they became futile in their thinking and darkened in their foolish hearts. 22Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools,… Romans 1: 20-22

Vs. 15-16 Yet he himself is examined by no one - God gives us teachers, that is one of the requirements for being an elder. We are to teach our children, and we are to be discerning, and He even teaches us how to judge things, not as hypocrites. We are told to examine both the doctrine and the life of those we meet, of those who would say that they speak in God's name. But, here is the great difference, that no man's opinion is the standard. We have the mind of Christ in the Body of Christ, and the Word of God which the Spirit will illuminate. We have all we need to be judged or appraised by, the Word of God is the standard, not the institutions or intuitions of men.

…3Yet not even Titus, who was with me, was compelled to be circumcised, even though he was a Greek. 4This issue arose because some false brothers had come in under false pretenses to spy on our freedom in Christ Jesus, in order to enslave us. 5We did not give in to them for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel would remain with you.… Galatians 2: 3-5

John Piper - The Spirit enables us to appraise things with their true value, but when natural men appraise us they will always go wrong. Why? 1 Cor 2:16: Because apart from the Spirit no one thinks or appraises like the Lord, but we who possess the Spirit have the mind of Christ. We have begun to view and assess things the way Christ does. Therefore we do not reject but receive the things of the Spirit even when they mean death to self; because now we know what is really valuable.

Pritchard - Second, unbelievers are in no position to judge believers because they do not know what we know. That’s the second phrase of verse 15—”He himself is not subject to any man’s judgment.” When the mighty philosophers of Athens called Paul a “seedpicker” (Acts 17:18 uses the word “babbler”), meaning something like “country bumpkin,” he ignored them and preached the gospel on Mars Hill anyway. In his mind, he said, “You aren’t qualified to pass judgment on me so I won’t pay any attention to what you say.” Later when Felix heard Paul preach about the resurrection of Christ, he said, “Paul, your great learning has driven you insane.” To which Paul replied, “I am not insane. What I am saying is true and reasonable” (Acts 26:24-25). He went ahead and pressed the truth home to King Agrippa. He would not let an unbeliever who doesn’t understand stop him from preaching the gospel.

Think of it this way. We can understand unbelievers; they can’t understand us. We understand them because we were once just like them. They can’t understand us because they have never seen the light. A man who was blind and now sees can truly say, “I know what it’s like to be blind,” but the man who has always been blind can never say, “I know what it’s like to see.” That is why we must treat unbelievers with kindness, patience, with a winsome spirit and a gracious heart while we wait for God to open their eyes. PA

…4So if you need to settle everyday matters, do you appoint as judges those of no standing in the church? 5I say this to your shame. Is there really no one among you wise enough to arbitrate between his brothers? 6Instead, one brother goes to law against another, and this in front of unbelievers!… 1 Corinthians 6: 4-6

…7But I tell you the truth, it is for your benefit that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you. 8And when He comes, He will convict the world in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: 9in regard to sin, because they do not believe in Me;…

…10in regard to righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you will no longer see Me; 11and in regard to judgment, because the prince of this world has been condemned. 12I still have much to tell you, but you cannot yet bear to hear it.… John 16: 7-12

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