1 Corinthians 2:15 … To discern all things (02/20/17)
“Those who are Spiritual discern all things, and are themselves subject to no one else’s scrutiny.” ~ Paul (1 Corinthians 2:15)
Actually, whereas Paul would imply herewith that those who are “spiritual” (i.e. those who happen to agree with his personally-created theology of atonement via the admission of sinfulness & absolvation via the worshiping Jesus Christ) can see the Truth in all events and know the Truth in all encounters, Jesus – as is so often the case regarding Paul’s writings – would say otherwise …
For Jesus would say that there is only one thing necessary to discern; that there is only one thing worthwhile to interpret, and only one thing worthy of knowing – and that thing is the Will of God; the will of his heavenly Father; a will that is the same as the essence of that Divinity; a will that is perfectly reflective of pure & perfect Love (Matthew 5:48); a will that by its nature cannot criticize or cajole or condemn (1 John 4:18 + Matthew 18:21-22); a will that by its nature shows only loving grace and compassionate mercy to others – even while rejecting the harms they might be inflicting (Luke 6:36).
And whereas Paul would say that this will resides in “God above” and that we can only access it when that God decides to share the same with us, Jesus noted quite clearly that this will of his heavenly Father resides ever & always within each & every one of us (John 14:20-26).
In addition, I find it odd that Paul would claim that those who meet his qualifications would themselves “be subject to no one else’s scrutiny” – odd in that Paul was the one who was so fond of critically scrutinizing others (see Acts 13:9-11, Romans 1:32, Romans 2:6, 1 Corinthians 16:22, 1 Corinthians 5:4-5, 1 Corinthians 10:20, 2 Corinthians 10:6, Galatians 2:11, Galatians 3:1, Galatians 5:12, Colossians 3:12-14, Philippians 3:18-19, & 1 Thessalonians 2:15-16) – and odd in that Paul himself was so flat-out wrong when it came to preaching The Gospel of Christ (please contrast his gospel mentioned in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 & Romans 10:9 with Jesus’ Gospel mentioned in Matthew 10:7 & Matthew 24:12-14).
Indeed, even in the particular chapter in which this verses resides, we see Paul not striving to share this Wisdom in order to bring others into harmony with God or inspire his listeners’ unique paths of service thereto, but rather to persuade them to align themselves with him and his teachings.
Finally, while those who understand the real majesty of perfect Love are indeed “subject to no one else’s scrutiny”, these are precisely the people who need never be told the same – for these are the people who are already willingly self-sacrificing for others without a care for their own reward or safety – these are the ones who deeply & fully Care for others without giving a single damn about what others might think about that Caring. (“And you will be hated by all because of my name. But the one who endures to the end [with Love] will be saved” ~ Jesus Christ in Matthew 10:22)
Amen … Let it be so.
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