January 28th

This week we will look at the role God plays in interpreting scripture correctly.  Last week we looked at the role of the reader (us) and I suggested that our role is to meditate on God’s word.  In other words, our role is to read it and then think about it.  So this week we are going to explore how God interacts with our meditations of his Word in order to bring about understanding and application in our lives.

Preparation:  Read 1 Corinthians 2.  Now turn your attention to verses 14 and 15.  Below are three examples of these verse from three different translations of scripture.  What is Paul suggesting here as to how the Spirit brings about understanding?

But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised. ¹⁵ But he who is spiritual appraises all things, yet he himself is appraised by no one. (NASB)

But people who aren’t spiritual can’t receive these truths from God’s Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them and they can’t understand it, for only those who are spiritual can understand what the Spirit means. Those who are spiritual can evaluate all things, but they themselves cannot be evaluated by others. (NLT)

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