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1 Corinthians 2:14 net — The unbeliever does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him. And he cannot underst…

NET Bible

"The unbeliever does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him. And he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned."

— 1 Corinthians 2:14, NET Bible

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1 Corinthians 2:14 in Other Translations

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1 Corinthians 2 — Context

11

For who among men knows the things of a man except the man’s spirit within him? So too, no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God.

12

Now we have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things that are freely given to us by God.

13

And we speak about these things, not with words taught us by human wisdom, but with those taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual things to spiritual people.

14

The unbeliever does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him. And he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.

15

The one who is spiritual discerns all things, yet he himself is understood by no one.

16

For who has known the mind of the Lord, so as to advise him? But we have the mind of Christ.

1 Corinthians 2:14 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does 1 Corinthians 2:14 say?
1 Corinthians 2:14 in the NET Bible reads: “The unbeliever does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him. And he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.”
Where is 1 Corinthians 2:14 in the Bible?
1 Corinthians 2:14 is found in the New Testament, in the book of 1 Corinthians, chapter 2, verse 14.
Who wrote 1 Corinthians?
1 Corinthians is traditionally attributed to Paul the Apostle. It was written c. AD 55.
What is the book of 1 Corinthians about?
Paul writes to a gifted but fractured church wrestling with divisions, sexual sin, lawsuits, marriage questions, food offered to idols, and disorder in worship. Through every issue he points back to the cross, the Spirit, and the resurrection — and gives us the church's greatest chapter on love.
What are the major themes of 1 Corinthians?
1 Corinthians explores themes including Unity, Cross, Spiritual Gifts, Love, Resurrection. These themes shape the meaning and context of 1 Corinthians 2:14.
What translation should I read 1 Corinthians 2:14 in?
1 Corinthians 2:14 is available on GodsGoodBook in the King James Version (KJV), American Standard Version (ASV), World English Bible (WEB), NET Bible, Young's Literal Translation, Darby Bible, Douay-Rheims Bible, and the Bible in Basic English. Each translation reflects different translation philosophies — use the translation picker on this page to compare them, or browse our full translations directory.
How can I memorize 1 Corinthians 2:14?
1 Corinthians 2:14 reads (NET): “The unbeliever does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him. And he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.” Read it aloud, break it into short phrases, repeat each phrase three times before adding the next, then put the phrases together. Reading it in multiple translations (above) often helps the meaning settle.
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