Calvinists insist that 1Cor2:14 teaches man cannot understand the gospel
I believe that is an error for the following reasons
1) The power of God’s word the gospel
John 20:31 (KJV 1900)
31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.
This clearly presupposes the gospel may be understood
2 Timothy 3:15 (KJV 1900)
15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
presupposes Holy scriptures may be understood
1 Peter 1:21–25 (KJV 1900)
21 Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God. 22 Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: 23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. 24 For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: 25 But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.
Man is regenerated through faith in the Gospel
Isaiah 55:11 (KJV 1900)
11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth:
It shall not return unto me void,
But it shall accomplish that which I please,
And it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
God’s word prospers in whatever it is set out to do
Psalm 19:7 (KJV 1900)
7 ………………………The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.
Psalm 119:130 (KJV 1900)
130 The entrance of thy words giveth light;
It giveth understanding unto the simple.
Self explanitory
Romans 1:16 (KJV 1900)
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
Romans 10:17 (KJV 1900)
17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
The word of God brings faith. It must be understood to do so
Hebrews 4:12 (KJV 1900)
12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
2) The bible reveals man’s problem is not that he does not understand the gospel but that he refuses to believe
2 Thessalonians 2:10 (KJV 1900)
10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
Romans 11:19–23 (KJV 1900)
19 Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in. 20 Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear: 21 For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee. 22 Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off. 23 And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in: for God is able to graff them in again.
Hebrews 4:2 (KJV 1900)
2 For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.
3) Warnings about hardening your heart make no sense if the gospel cannot be understood
Hebrews 3:7 (KJV 1900)
7 Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice,
Hebrews 3:15 (KJV 1900)
15 While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.
Hebrews 4:7 (KJV 1900)
7 Again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long a time; as it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
4) If man cannot understand the gospel why would God blind men so they could not believe
John 12:40 (KJV 1900)
40 He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them.
Or speaks to men in parables so they would not understand
Mark 4:11–12 (KJV 1900)
11 And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables: 12 That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them.
Why would the devil blind anyone
2 Corinthians 4:4 (KJV 1900)
4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
I believe that is an error for the following reasons
1) The power of God’s word the gospel
John 20:31 (KJV 1900)
31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.
This clearly presupposes the gospel may be understood
2 Timothy 3:15 (KJV 1900)
15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
presupposes Holy scriptures may be understood
1 Peter 1:21–25 (KJV 1900)
21 Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God. 22 Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: 23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. 24 For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: 25 But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.
Man is regenerated through faith in the Gospel
Isaiah 55:11 (KJV 1900)
11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth:
It shall not return unto me void,
But it shall accomplish that which I please,
And it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
God’s word prospers in whatever it is set out to do
Psalm 19:7 (KJV 1900)
7 ………………………The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.
Psalm 119:130 (KJV 1900)
130 The entrance of thy words giveth light;
It giveth understanding unto the simple.
Self explanitory
Romans 1:16 (KJV 1900)
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
Romans 10:17 (KJV 1900)
17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
The word of God brings faith. It must be understood to do so
Hebrews 4:12 (KJV 1900)
12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
2) The bible reveals man’s problem is not that he does not understand the gospel but that he refuses to believe
2 Thessalonians 2:10 (KJV 1900)
10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
Romans 11:19–23 (KJV 1900)
19 Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in. 20 Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear: 21 For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee. 22 Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off. 23 And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in: for God is able to graff them in again.
Hebrews 4:2 (KJV 1900)
2 For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.
3) Warnings about hardening your heart make no sense if the gospel cannot be understood
Hebrews 3:7 (KJV 1900)
7 Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice,
Hebrews 3:15 (KJV 1900)
15 While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.
Hebrews 4:7 (KJV 1900)
7 Again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long a time; as it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
4) If man cannot understand the gospel why would God blind men so they could not believe
John 12:40 (KJV 1900)
40 He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them.
Or speaks to men in parables so they would not understand
Mark 4:11–12 (KJV 1900)
11 And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables: 12 That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them.
Why would the devil blind anyone
2 Corinthians 4:4 (KJV 1900)
4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.