Commentaries:
Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown
also—We not only know by the Holy Ghost, but we also speak the "things freely given to us of God" (I Corinthians 2:12).
which the Holy Ghost teacheth—The old manuscripts read "the Spirit" simply, without "Holy."
comparing spiritual things with spiritual—expounding the Spirit-inspired Old Testament Scripture, by comparison with the Gospel which Jesus by the same Spirit revealed [GROTIUS]; and conversely illustrating the Gospel mysteries by comparing them with the Old Testament types [CHRYSOSTOM]. So the Greek word is translated, "comparing" (II Corinthians 10:12). WAHL (Key of the New Testament) translates, "explaining (as the Greek is translated, Genesis 40:8, the Septuagint) to spiritual (that is, Spirit-taught) men, spiritual things (the things which we ourselves are taught by the Spirit)." Spirit-taught men alone can comprehend spiritual truths. This accords with I Corinthians 2:6, I Corinthians 2:9-10, I Corinthians 2:14-15; I Corinthians 3:1. ALFORD translates, "Putting together (combining) spirituals with spirituals"; that is, attaching spiritual words to spiritual things, which we should not do, if we were to use words of worldly wisdom to expound spiritual things (so I Corinthians 2:1, I Corinthians 2:4; I Peter 4:11). Perhaps the generality of the neuters is designed to comprehend these several notions by implication. Comparing, or combining, spirituals with spirituals; implying both that spiritual things are only suited to spiritual persons (so "things" comprehended persons, I Corinthians 1:27), and also that spiritual truths can only be combined with spiritual (not worldly-wise) words; and lastly, spirituals of the Old and New Testaments can only be understood by mutual comparison or combination, not by combination with worldly "wisdom," or natural perceptions (I Corinthians 1:21-22; I Corinthians 2:1, I Corinthians 2:4-9; compare Psalms 119:18).
Other Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown entries containing 1 Corinthians 2:13:
John 1:14
1 Corinthians 2:6-7
1 Corinthians 2:10
2 Corinthians 6:6
2 Corinthians 11:6
1 Timothy 3:16
2 Timothy 3:16
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