1 Corinthians 2:13, Comparing Spiritual Things with Spiritual

1 Corinthians 2:13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

The spiritual man has the Spirit of God to help him understand Scriptures, spiritual things are spiritually discerned. The spiritual man can thus know the things of God.

The Apostle Paul’s claim is that his utterance is God-given and Spirit-led. This is a proof text for the infallibility of the preaching ministry of the apostles. Today, the apostles are no longer with us. But the Word of God that is written down is preserved for us today (Matt 5:17-18, Psalm 12:6-7). Today, we are to preach the Word of God as the Spirit of God teach us in our study of Scriptures. Our authority is in the Word of God recorded for us today.

2 Peter 1:21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

The Holy Spirit seals the Word by giving the heart of the believer a firm conviction on the divine and absolute authority of the Word of God. The Holy Spirit imparts the right understanding of the Word of God. It helps the believer to understand the mind of the divine Author, the intended meaning. For scripture has only one meaning and there can be many applications. The application is the living out of the Word of God.¹ Amen.

¹Abraham Kuyper, “The Work of the Holy Spirit”, WM. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 190.