2Corinthinans 2:13-15 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual (pneumatikos, things of the spirit) things with spiritual (pneumatikos, of the spirit).

¹⁴ But the natural (psuchikos, man of the soul, soulish) man receiveth not the things of the Spirit (Pneuma) of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know (ginosko, come to know) them, because they are spiritually (pneumatikos, of the spirit) discerned.

¹⁵ But he that is spiritual (pneumatikos, of the spirit) judgeth (anakrino, discerns, scrutinizes) all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.

1 Cor. 2:10-15 is a section of Scripture that offers us an understanding in the matter of spiritual knowing. It reveals sense knowing by the spirit as being far superior to soulical or natural knowing that we may gain in our mind and intellect apart from “the Sprit of life in Christ Jesus.”

Paul in verse 15 refers to “spiritual” using the Greek word “pneumatikos” to describe the believer who is “of the spirit.” “Pneuma” is the Greek word for “spirit.” And “ikos” means “of the.” Thus a “him that is spiritual” is a person who is “of the spirit.”

I am explaining this to help us to better see the contrast Paul is making. In verse 14, Paul uses the term “natural man.” Many Christians and even Pastors say “This is the unsaved man,” I but this is not so. Paul is writing to believers at Corinth a very soulish and carnal church. The Greek word Paul uses use “psuchikos” to describe the believer who is still soulish “of the soul” – one who is not spiritual.  “Psuchikos” is from “Psuche” which is the Greek word for “soul” and “ikos” means “of the.” Hence, we see Paul is referring here to “the believer who is of the soul” – soulish.  

From 1Cor 2:10-15 we see the spiritual believer is the one who is able to hear what cannot be heard by the soulish believer. You see, if we are “of the spirit” we live by the spirit, and thereby we have a perception or hearing that is of God’s spirit within us. We hear in an added dimension by our 6^th sense.

However, a regenerated, born-again believer may yet be “natural,” soulish, “of the soul,” which is to live by the soul functions of the mind, emotion, and self-will instead of by the inner sense of the spirit. The issue is not that we are wrong to have an able or strong mind; not, the issue is that we might still have an independent mind, not trusting in the Lord as our life source and innermost guide in our life.

Lacking trust in the Lord within, the soulish believer cannot hear or perceive the Lord within. The soulish believer cannot hear God, thus he may proceed bull headedly, or he gropes, grasping at straws, perhaps using fleeces and other methods to try and learn God’s will.

The soulish believer lives by the wrong organ – his soul. The soulish believer is often heard saying words like, “I think…” “I feel…” or “I want…” The soulish believer is a flaming self who has a mixed commitment – he loves God but also his own self even more.

The fact is that all believers come to God and start in this way of the soul – independent and self-reliant. We are saved, but our soul needs to become renewed. (2Cor 4:16, Rom 12:2). This is accomplished through a daily process of life that is overseen by the Lord as He orchestrates the situation of our life…for our good. Thus, God is working upon us to purify our hearts, separating us from the dross in our lives, dividing soul and spirit.

Romans 8:28-29 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. ²⁹ For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

Philippians 2:13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

A believer must grow to become spiritual – learning to live by relying upon the indwelling spirit. The one who is spiritual is “of the spirit”; he can hear God within and will rely upon that innermost spirit-perception in his decision making.