Thoughts on 1 Cor. 2 and 3.
1 Corinthians 2:9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. 2:10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. 2:11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. 2:12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. 2:13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 2:14 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. 2:15 But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. 2:16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.
Whereas those things that man speaks forth through words to other men in general are his own ideas; those things that Paul spoke forth to spiritually minded men, not only concerned the things of God; but in His Own Words.
Note the wording the - "which things also we speak...in the words which...the Holy Ghost teacheth..."
To compare with, there, is to speak forth the things of God; in His Words.
"...comparing (pairing together the) spiritual things (of God) with (His) spiritual" (words) so as to describe the things of God in His Words to the spiritually minded (those who not only want to know the mind of Christ on any issue; but in His Words).
The problem with the Corinthians?
They were carnally minded in where they approached looking at things from.
Result?
Paul's lament in chapter in...
1 Corinthians 3:1 And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. 3:2 I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. 3:3 For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? 3:4 For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?
This issue - of being yet carnal - is the issue of having failed to mature spiritually to a point where one's automatic focus - upon encountering anything in life or anyone troublesome in one way or another - is the automatic question "what, according to the Scripture, might the mind of Christ be on this issue...in His Words... in the Scripture?
Paul's writings had this very intent in mind - that his readers might have his God-given mind of Christ on all issues.
Another aspect of this is why we so often "fail" to get through to the books based "Bible student."
Their ideas are their own, and the ideas of men.
Whether or not, they quote Scripture.
1 Corinthians 2:9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. 2:10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. 2:11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. 2:12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. 2:13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 2:14 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. 2:15 But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. 2:16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.
Whereas those things that man speaks forth through words to other men in general are his own ideas; those things that Paul spoke forth to spiritually minded men, not only concerned the things of God; but in His Own Words.
Note the wording the - "which things also we speak...in the words which...the Holy Ghost teacheth..."
To compare with, there, is to speak forth the things of God; in His Words.
"...comparing (pairing together the) spiritual things (of God) with (His) spiritual" (words) so as to describe the things of God in His Words to the spiritually minded (those who not only want to know the mind of Christ on any issue; but in His Words).
The problem with the Corinthians?
They were carnally minded in where they approached looking at things from.
Result?
Paul's lament in chapter in...
1 Corinthians 3:1 And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. 3:2 I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. 3:3 For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? 3:4 For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?
This issue - of being yet carnal - is the issue of having failed to mature spiritually to a point where one's automatic focus - upon encountering anything in life or anyone troublesome in one way or another - is the automatic question "what, according to the Scripture, might the mind of Christ be on this issue...in His Words... in the Scripture?
Paul's writings had this very intent in mind - that his readers might have his God-given mind of Christ on all issues.
Another aspect of this is why we so often "fail" to get through to the books based "Bible student."
Their ideas are their own, and the ideas of men.
Whether or not, they quote Scripture.
