The distinction between the natural and spiritual mind

We find the things revealed to us within our own reasoning, but we also proclaim them; we do not decorate them with words, but rather we compare spiritual things to the spiritual, understanding those revelations by the power of the Spirit and proclaiming them in their proper order. We compare spiritual things to the spiritual because when the second revelation serves as an interpretation and a clarity of the former, those receiving the revelations compare the later things to the first, and finding the same, they receive a greater full-knowledge of the revealed truth.

God and the Holy Spirit are two persons, but man and the spirit in him are not two persons, but one man. He says this because just as there is no disagreement of knowledge within a man, so also the knowledge of the Father and the Spirit is one; for this reason, the Spirit would not have inquired as if he were ignorant. Furthermore, regarding the man, the Spirit in him spoke, but regarding the Holy Spirit, he did not say 'the one in God' but 'the one from God.' There is a great difference between the one within him and the one from God, for the one in him is the fullness of the man, while the one from him shows the cause.

Precisely, the Holy Spirit from God spoke as a living and subsistent essence, but the unclean of the world spoke as its completion of essence; for the devil is a part of its creation according to how it came to be. However, we do not find the things revealed to us to be decorated by mere reasoning, but we compare spiritual things to the spiritual when the second revelation becomes an interpretation and a clarity of the first teaching, vision, or wonder. The later things are compared to the first and the same are found. We receive the greatest full-knowledge of the truth from this harmony. This is made manifest by those who compare opposites, and also by those who distinguish and separate; yet the former is better. 1 Cor 2:14-15 A natural man does not receive...

Concerning the Spirit. He calls the one who adheres to familiar reasonings 'psychic.' it is foolishness to him. Such is the depth of the spiritual revelation that it appears as foolishness to the wise of this world; in this way, the revelation of God is uncontainable to them. For, demonstrating power through the grace of the Holy Spirit, he reproves the clever man, not by cleverness but by the strength of wonders. The spiritual ones do not overturn reasonings with reasonings, but receiving the mind from God and the revelation from there, they discourse, so that the one opposing does not refute reasonings, but opposes the knowledge of God. Because of this he says: for who has known the mind of the Lord, who will instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ, which is the knowledge.

He calls 'psychic' the one adhering to familiar reasonings, or the one sick with the reasonings of the soul and not being strong concerning the knowledge of the truth, just as he calls 'fleshly' the one sick concerning fleshly desires and a slave to pleasures. Thus, the psychic is not able to be receptive to the truth, but has so corrupted the soul as to regard the economy of God and the grace as foolishness. And, being unable to know that he is being examined spiritually, the psychic man, seeking clever reasonings, regards the cross as foolish and, having lost faith, is pushed away from the preaching; and not rejecting the wonders of the Spirit, he is no longer able even to perceive that he is being refuted by the power and wonder of the Spirit against the truth; for 'to examine' reveals the precise and is to refute thoroughly. But the spiritual man, who has come to possess the Spirit through whom he demonstrates signs, refutes all those who refute poorly, while he himself is refuted by nothing. Furthermore, believing the word, he sets forth things from the old and says (1 Cor 2:16): 'He will instruct.' We have the mind.