1 Corinthians 2:15 says, “The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one.” This verse teaches that those who are filled with the Holy Spirit have the ability to discern and evaluate all things according to God’s truth. Here is an in-depth look at what this verse means.
1. The “Spiritual Man” Refers to Believers Indwelt by the Holy Spirit
In 1 Corinthians 2:15, the “spiritual man” refers specifically to those who have trusted in Christ for salvation and have subsequently been indwelt by the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:9). When a person becomes a Christian, the Holy Spirit takes up residence within them and enlightens their mind to understand spiritual truths (1 Corinthians 2:12). So the “spiritual man” is a believer who has the Spirit and is seeking to live by the Spirit’s power and wisdom.
2. The Spiritual Man “Judges All Things”
To “judge” means to evaluate, discern, assess, or appraise. Because the spiritual man has the mind of Christ (1 Cor 2:16), he can judge, test, and appraise all things accurately against the standard of God’s Word and will. This means a few key things:
- The spiritual man can discern truth from error. With the Holy Spirit’s help, he can differentiate biblical truth from worldly philosophies and false teaching (1 John 4:1).
- He can determine right from wrong. He has spiritual wisdom to evaluate thoughts, words, teachings, and actions against God’s moral standards.
- He can assess people’s character and motives accurately. Unlike humans who judge by outward appearances, the spiritual man can discern people’s underlying motivations (1 Samuel 16:7).
- He can recognize the spiritual forces at work in various situations. He can discern whether something is of God or not of God—of the Spirit or of the flesh (1 Corinthians 2:14).
- He has insight into God’s will and ways. Illuminated by the Spirit, he can evaluate life circumstances from God’s perspective.
3. The Spiritual Man Brings All Things Under the Scrutiny of God’s Truth
The phrase “judges all things” means that the spiritual man consciously brings all matters under the scrutiny of God’s Word and judging all things by it. No area of life—such as business, politics, entertainment, worldviews—is exempt from reflection against the mirror of Scripture. The spiritual man submits his own thoughts, attitudes, and actions to the examination of Scripture, allowing it to permeate all aspects of life.
4. Only the Spiritual Man Can Properly Judge Spiritual Things
One key implication of this verse is that only the spiritual man can properly discern and judge spiritual matters. Only Christians have the indwelling Holy Spirit, who enables them to appraise spiritual truths accurately. Non-Christians lack the Spirit and cannot receive or understand spiritual things:
The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. (1 Corinthians 2:14)
That’s why spiritual discernment cannot be attained through worldly wisdom, but only through the wisdom imparted by the Holy Spirit who reveals God’s mind to believers.
5. The Spiritual Man Should Be Careful Not to Judge Hypocritically
Though the spiritual man can judge matters accurately, he must be on guard against judging hypocritically. He must ensure he is taking the log out of his own eye before judging the speck in a brother’s eye (Matthew 7:1-5). He must remember that all his judgments must be done in love, humility, and selflessness, fully relying on God’s grace.
6. Though the Spiritual Man Judges All Things, He Is Accountable Only to God
Interestingly, though the spiritual man is called to evaluate all matters spiritually, he is not subject to the judgment of men but of God alone. Why is this? A few reasons:
- He recognizes God alone is the ultimate and perfect Judge (James 4:12).
- His discernment is Spirit-guided, so he cannot be accurately judged by those without the Spirit.
- He answers to the Lord, not to the opinions of men (1 Corinthians 4:3-4).
- Unbelievers cannot fully understand or evaluate his spiritual motives and calling.
The spiritual man takes seriously his accountability before God who weighs his heart and motives. But he is not ultimately subject to fallible human judgment.
7. The Spiritual Man Must Use His Discernment to Benefit Others, Not Tear Them Down
This ability to judge all things spiritually comes with great responsibility. The spiritual man must ensure he uses it to edify and build up others, not to condemn or tear down. He must be guided by love and speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15). He should see spiritual discernment as a gift to benefit the church, not bolster his own ego. Right judgment will be marked by humility, selflessness, and Christ-centeredness.
8. Spiritual Discernment Develops With Spiritual Growth and Maturity
The ability to judge spiritually is a sign of spiritual maturity which develops over time. Spiritual discernment is often weaker in new believers and grows as they cultivate their relationship with Christ and dig deeply into God’s Word. Discernment comes through renewing our minds to align more closely with the mind of Christ (Romans 12:2). The more we grow in the Lord, the more our judgment capabilities will increase by the Spirit’s work in us.
9. We Must Rely on the Spirit to Judge Rightly, Rather Than Our Own Wisdom
This verse shows that accurate spiritual judgment is ultimately the work of the Holy Spirit in us, not our own human wisdom or effort. To judge rightly, we must continually rely on the Spirit to enlighten our understanding, overcome our human biases, and apply God’s truth to each situation.
We can ask for His discernment, wisdom and insight. We can lean on Him fully, not our own thinking. We must actively surrender our minds to Him, asking that He renew and transform how we evaluate all matters.
10. God Calls Every Believer to Grow in Spiritual Discernment
Judging spiritually should not be reserved just for church leaders and mature believers. God calls every Christian to grow continually in discernment and understanding of His truth. We all have the duty to bring every thought captive to Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5), judge righteous judgment (John 7:24), and walk in wisdom toward outsiders (Colossians 4:5-6). As we grow in the grace and knowledge of Christ, we will be able to apply His truth more fully in how we assess and interact with the world around us.
In summary, 1 Corinthians 2:15 teaches that believers in Christ who are controlled by the Holy Spirit have the capacity for spiritual discernment that unbelievers lack. The more believers grow in Christ, the more discerning they should become. This enables them to rightly evaluate all things against God’s standards. While accountable only to God, they must exercise discernment with utmost humility, wisdom, and love.