¹⁴ The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are ^(A)folly to him, and ^(B)he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.

Christ the Wisdom and Power of God

¹⁸ For the word of the cross is ^(A)folly to ^(B)those who are perishing, but to us ^(C)who are being saved it is ^(D)the power of God.

⁵ For ^(A)those who live according to the flesh set their minds on ^(B)the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on ^(C)the things of the Spirit. ⁶ For to set ^(D)the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. ⁷ For the mind that is set on the flesh is ^(E)hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; ^(F)indeed, it cannot. ⁸ Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

¹¹ And he answered them, ^(A)“To you it has been given to know ^(B)the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. ^12 (C)For to the one who has, more will be given, and he will have an abundance, but from the one who has not, ^(D)even what he has will be taken away. ¹³ This is why I speak to them in parables, because ^(E)seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, ^(F)nor do they understand. ¹⁴ Indeed, in their case the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled that says:

¹⁶ But ^(L)blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear. ^17 (M)For truly, I say to you, ^(N)many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.

⁴ In their case ^(A)the god of this world ^(B)has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing ^(C)the light of ^(D)the gospel of the glory of Christ, ^(E)who is the image of God. ⁵ For what ^(F)we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ^(G)ourselves as your servants^[a] for Jesus' sake. ⁶ For God, who said, ^(H)“Let light shine out of darkness,” ^(I)has shone in our hearts to give ^(J)the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

²⁷ But ^(A)the anointing that you received from him abides in you, and ^(B)you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about everything, and ^(C)is true, and is no lie—just as it has taught you, abide in him.

⁴⁶ But it is not the spiritual that is first but the natural, and then the spiritual.

¹⁹ It is these who cause divisions, worldly people, ^(A)devoid of the Spirit.

¹⁵ This is not ^(A)the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, ^(B)demonic.