1 Corinthians 2 · Verse 15

1 Corinthians 2:15

But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.
1 Corinthians 2:15, King James Version

1 Corinthians 2:15 in other translations

BSBThe spiritual man judges all things, but he himself is not subject to anyone’s judgment.
WEBBut he who is spiritual discerns all things, and he himself is to be judged by no one.
ASVBut he that is spiritual judgeth all things, and he himself is judged of no man.
YLTand he who is spiritual, doth discern indeed all things, and he himself is by no one discerned;
DARBYbut the spiritual discerns all things, and he is discerned of no one.
BBEBut he who has the Spirit, though judging all things, is himself judged by no one.
WebsterBut he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged by no man.

What does 1 Corinthians 2:15 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
15. He that is spiritual--literally, "the spiritual (man)." In 1Co 2:14, it is "A [not 'the,' as English Version] natural man." The spiritual is the man distinguished above his fellow men, as he in whom the Spirit rules. In the unregenerate, the spirit which ought to be the organ of the Holy Spirit (and which is so in the regenerate), is overridden by the animal soul, and is in abeyance, so that such a one is never called "spiritual." judgeth all things--and persons, by their true standard (compare 1Co 6:2-4; 1Jo 4:1), in so far as he is spiritual. "Discerneth ... is discerned," would better accord with the translation of the same Greek (1Co 2:14). Otherwise for "discerned," in 1Co 2:14, translate, "judged of," to accord with the translation, "judgeth ... is judged" in this fifteenth verse. He has a practical insight into the verities of the Gospel, though he is not infallible on all theoretical points. If an individual may have the Spirit without being infallible, why may not the Church have the Spirit, and yet not be infallible (a refutation of the plea of Rome for the Church's infallibility, from Mt 28:20; Joh 16:13)? As the believer and the Church have the Spirit, and are yet not therefore impeccable, so he and the Church have the Spirit, and yet are not infallible or impeccable. He and the Church are both infallible and impeccable, only in proportion to the degree in which they are led by the Spirit. The Spirit leads into all truth and holiness; but His influence on believers and on the Church is as yet partial. Jesus alone, who had the Spirit without measure (Joh 3:34), is both infallible and impeccable. Scripture, because it was written by men, who while writing were infallibly inspired, is unmixed truth (Pr 28:5; 1Jo 2:27).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 15. But he that is spiritual. The man who is enlightened by the Holy Spirit, in contradistinction from him who is under the influence of the senses only.

Judge. Greek, Discerneth, (margin;) the same word as in the previous verse. It means, that the spiritual man has a discernment of those truths in regard to which the sensual man was blind and ignorant.

All things. Not absolutely all things; or not that he is omniscient; but that he has a view of those things to which the apostle had reference--that is, to the things which are revealed to man by the Holy Spirit.

Yet he himself is judged. Greek, as in the margin, "is discerned;" that is, his feelings, principles, views, hopes, fears, joys, cannot be fully understood and appreciated by any natural or sensual man. He does not comprehend the principles which actuate him; he does not enter into his joys; he does not sympathize with him in his feelings. This is a matter of simple truth and universal observation. The reason is added in the following verse--that as the Christian is influenced by the Lord, and as the natural man does not know him, so he cannot know him who is influenced by him that is, the Christian.

(b) "he that is spiritual" Prov 28:5 (1) "judgeth" "discerneth" (++) "all things" "searcheth out" (+) "discerned" "searched out"

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 15 But he that is spiritual judgeth all things - He who has the mind of Christ discerns and judges of all things spiritual: yet he himself is not discerned by the mere animal man. Some suppose that the word ανακρινεται should be understood thus: He examines, scrutinizes, convinces, reproves, which it appears to mean in 1Cor 14:24; and they read the verse thus: The spiritual man - the well-taught Christian, convinces, i.e. can easily convict, all men, (παντα, accusing), every animal man, of error and vice; yet he himself is convicted of no man; his mind is enlightened, and his life is holy; and therefore the animal man cannot convict him of sin. This is a good sense, but the first appears the most natural. See Pearce and Rosenmuller.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 1 Corinthians 2:10-16

God has revealed true wisdom to us by his Spirit. Here is a proof of the Divine authority of the Holy Scriptures, 2Pe 1:21. In proof of the Divinity of the Holy Ghost, observe, that he knows all things, and he searches all things, even the deep things of God. No one can know the things of God, but his Holy Spirit, who is one with the Father and the Son, and who makes known Divine mysteries to his church. This is…

Read the full comment on 1 Corinthians 2:10-16 →

1 Corinthians 2:15 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ὁhoHe who [is]G3588
δὲdehoweverG1161
πνευματικὸςpneumatikosspiritualG4152
ἀνακρίνειanakrineijudgesG350
τὰta<the>G3588
πάντα,pantaall thingsG3956
αὐτὸςautoshe himselfG846
δὲdehoweverG1161
ὑπ᾽hup᾽byG5259
οὐδενὸςoudenosno [one]G3762
ἀνακρίνεται.anakrinetaiis judged.G350

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for 1 Corinthians 2:15

  • 1 Thessalonians 5:21

    Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.

  • Hebrews 5:14

    But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

  • Proverbs 28:5

    Evil men understand not judgment: but they that seek the Lord understand all things.

  • 1 John 4:1

    Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

  • 1 Corinthians 14:37

    If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.

  • Galatians 6:1

    Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.

  • Ephesians 4:13-14

    Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

  • Philippians 1:10

    That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ;

  • Colossians 1:9

    For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;

  • 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.

  • Ecclesiastes 8:5

    Whoso keepeth the commandment shall feel no evil thing: and a wise man’s heart discerneth both time and judgment.

  • Galatians 2:3-5

    But neither Titus, who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised: And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage: To whom we gave place by subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
he that.
3:1; 14:37; Ga 6:1; Col 1:9
judgeth. or, discerneth.
2Sa 14:17; 1Ki 3:9-11; Ps 25:14; Pr 28:5; Ec 8:5; Joh 7:17
Eph 4:13,14; Php 1:10; *Gr:
1Th 5:21; Heb 5:14; 1Jo 4:1
yet.
4:5; 2Sa 12:16-23; Ac 15:1-5; 16:3; Ga 2:3-5
judged. or, discerned.

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • 1 Corinthians 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.

  • 1 Corinthians 2:15

    But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.

  • 1 Corinthians 2:16

    For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.

Read all of 1 Corinthians 2

1 Corinthians 2:15 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Empero el espiritual juzga todas las cosas; mas él no es juzgado de nadie.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Mais celui qui est spirituel discerne toutes choses; mais lui n’est discerné par personne;
German
Elberfelder 1871		der geistliche aber beurteilt alles, er selbst aber wird von niemandem beurteilt;
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Spiritualis autem judicat omnia: et ipse a nemine judicatur.