Spiritual Wisdom 1 Corinthians 2:15 But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one. On the other hand, the man who is illuminated by the Spirit of God can discern these wonderful truths even though he himself cannot be rightly judged by the unconverted. Perhaps he is a carpenter, or plumber, or fisherman; yet he is an able student of the Holy Scriptures. “The Spirit-controlled Christian investigates, inquires into, and scrutinizes the Bible and comes to an appreciation and understanding of its contents” (KSW). He may never have been to college or seminary, yet he can understand the deep mysteries of the word of God and perhaps even teach them to others. 1 Corinthians 2:16 For “who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ. The apostle now asks with Isaiah the rhetorical question: “Who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him?” To ask the question is to answer it. God cannot be known through the wisdom or power of men. He is known only as He chooses to make Himself known. However, those who have the mind of Christ are able to understand the deep truths of God. To review then, first there is revelation (vv. 9–12). This means that God revealed previously unknown truths to men by the Holy Spirit. These truths were made known supernaturally by the Spirit of God. Secondly, there is inspiration (v. 13). In transmitting these truths to others, the apostles (and all other writers of the Bible) used the very words which the Holy Spirit taught them to use. Finally, there is illumination (vv. 14–16). Not only must these truths be miraculously revealed and miraculously inspired, but they can only be understood by the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit. Working Together for God 1 Corinthians 3:1 And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. The cause of problems in the church was more than external, worldly influence. It was also internal carnality. The pressures of the world were combined with the weakness of the flesh. Although Corinthian believers were no longer “natural,” they were not “spiritual” (fully controlled by the Holy Spirit). In fact, they were controlled by the fallen flesh. Though all believers have the Holy Spirit (cf. Ro 8:9) they still battle the fallen “flesh”. The carnality of those believers was indicative of their immaturity. They had no excuse for not being mature, since Paul implied that he should have been able to write to them as mature, in light of all he had taught them. Supporting scripture #1: Hebrews 5:12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. :13 For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. :14 But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. Supporting scripture #2 Peter 2:1 Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, :2 as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, :3 if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious. 1 Corinthians 3:2 I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able; Paul had taught them only the elementary truths concerning Christ, which he speaks of as milk. They were not able to take solid food because of their immaturity. The deeper features of the doctrines of Scripture. The difference is not in kind of truth, but degree of depth. In the same vein, the Lord Jesus said to His disciples, “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now” (John 16:12). With regard to the Corinthians, the tragic thing was that they still had not improved sufficiently to receive deeper truth from the apostle. 1 Corinthians 3:3 for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men? The believers were still in a carnal or fleshly state of soul. This was evidenced by the fact that there was envy and strife among them. Such behavior is characteristic of the men of this world, but not of those who are led by the Spirit of God. Macdonald, W. (1995). Believer’s Bible Commentary: Old and New Testaments. (A. Farstad, Ed.). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.