In verse 10, Paul says that the wisdom, the mysterious things of God, are revealed through the Holy Spirit. And in verse 11 he says that only the Spirit of God knows the thoughts of God. This is very significant. If only the Spirit of God knows and can communicate to us the thoughts of God, then no one who does not recognize the Spirit of God as described in the Bible can rightfully claim to have knowledge of God. At least not the type of knowledge described here, which goes beyond the most basic understanding of God. (verse 6)
Paul also says that it is the Spirit of God who has given the Apostles knowledge of what we have been given by God. He says that the Apostles have also spoken and taught this knowledge (verse 13), so we have access to it as well through scripture. This would include knowledge of God's gift of salvation: justification, sanctification and glorification.
Quick vocab review with "bite size" definitions:
Justification- Being considered perfect by God, cleared of all charges and saved from the penalty of Hell. (Instant event at the time of belief in Christ.)
Sanctification- Being both set apart for and declared appropriate for carrying out the purposes of God. (An ongoing, daily process.)
Glorification- Being remade, perfect in every way, no longer having the tendency to sin. (This comes after our current life on earth.)
Scripture gives us not only knowledge of God, and salvation, but also knowledge of ourselves and understanding of our purpose.
When we take a moment and consider the things "freely given to us by God", the list is immense! But we need the Holy Spirit to teach us all of these things. Without him, we only have access to "human wisdom".
Paul says that the Holy Spirit allows him and the other Apostles to "combine spiritual thoughts with spiritual words" when they teach. The word used for "spiritual" here is "pneumatikos" from the root word, "pneuma". "Pneuma" refers to the immaterial part of man that reflects, desires and is able to think of God. All humans have a "pneuma" and are "spiritual" in that sense. But in the context of 1st Corinthians chapter 2, Paul contrasts this word with the word "psuchikos" in verse 14, which means "natural". A "psuchikos" man, as mentioned in verse 14, is governed only by his environment, his animal instincts and his fallen nature. The "psuchikos" man thinks that the things related to the Spirit of God are foolish. He thinks this way because he doesn't have the Spirit of God in him and is therefore unable to evaluate spiritual things. (Verse 11)
Paul continues to define "spiritual" by saying in verse 15 that "he who is spiritual appraises all things". The spiritual person can potentially examine accurately the ideas he is presented with. The "natural" man has no potential for this without the Holy Spirit revealing truth to him. Paul also says that the spiritual person can't be rightly examined by anyone. This is supported by verse 11 in this chapter, and by Isaiah 40:13, which Paul quotes here in verse 16 from the Greek translation of the Old Testament.
So based on this chapter as a whole, a truly "spiritual" person is someone who is being guided by the Holy Spirit.
He caps off this chapter by adding that he and the other Apostles, however, have the mind of Christ. They have access to the mind of God in ways that other men do not and so are able to evaluate men with the authority of God. In light of this, Paul continues his evaluation of the Corinthians in chapter 3.
Coffee House Question-
How do you think the average person might define the word "spiritual"? Next Week- "Growing Up"
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