Matthew Poole and continuators on 1 Corinthians 2:14

14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God a, for they are foolishness unto him : neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned .

There are great disputes here, who is meant by the natural man, [non-Latin text not transcribed]. Some think that by the natural man here is meant the carnal man: thus 1 Cor. 15.44. the natural body is opposed to the spiritual body; besides, they say, that in the constant Phrase of holy Writ, man who is made up of flesh and spirit, as his essential parts, hath constantly his denomination from one of them, and all men in the world are either carnal or spiritual, and that the Greek word [non-Latin text not transcribed] signifies that soul and life which is common to all men, from whence all common motions and affections are, and is opposed to the holy Spirit, which dwells in the souls of them that are sanctified, by which they are led and guided, &c. Thus, say they, the natural man is one who is a servant to his lusts and corruption, under the perfect government of his Soul, considered meerly as natural, all whose motions in that estate of sin and corruption are inordinate. Others think that the Apostle here speaks of such as are weak in the Faith, little ones, Babes in Christ, who had need of milk, not of strong meat, and are natural men in comparison of those more spiritual and perfect. In this sense indeed the Apostle, Chap. 3. v. 4. calleth them carnal. But there is nothing more plain, than that the Apostle under the notion of [non-Latin text not transcribed] (which we translate natural man) here, understands all such as were not perfect and spiritual, such to whom God had not by his Spirit revealed the deep things of God, v. 10. such as had only received the spirit of the world, not the Spirit of God, by which alone men come to know the things that are freely given them of God, as v. 12. All these, though some of them are much better than others, having their minds more cultivated and adorned with worldly knowledge and wisdom, yet do not in their hearts (though they may with their ears) receive, that is, believe, embrace, and close with or approve of spiritual and Divine Mysteries, such Doctrines as are purely matters of Faith, standing upon a Divine Revelations.

For men of wit and reason count them all foolishness, being neither demonstrable by sense or natural reason.

Niether can any man, no otherwise taught and instructed, so comprehend them, as to give a firm and fixed assent to them, or in heart approve them, because they are only to be seen and discerned in a spiritual light, the holy Spirit of God, which is the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Christ. Eph. 1.17, 18. In lightning their understandings, that they may know the hope of his calling, and what is the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the Saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of his power to them that believe, according to the working of his mighty power, &c. Thus the Apostle gives a reason of what he had said, v. 8. That none of the Princes of the world knew the wisdom of God.

Marginal references: Rom. 8.7.