Scripture's Limitations on Human Reason in Understanding God

The Bible emphasizes the limitations of human reason in understanding God, highlighting the insufficiency of human intellect to comprehend divine nature and purposes. In Romans 1:21, it is written that despite knowing God, humans "didn't glorify him as God, neither gave thanks, but became vain in their reasoning, and their senseless heart was darkened" ^[1]. This passage underscores the futility of human reasoning when it is not guided by a proper reverence for God.

The apostle Paul further elaborates on this concept in 1 Corinthians 2:14, stating that "a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised" ^{[2, 3]}. This indicates that human understanding is limited by its natural perspective, unable to grasp spiritual truths without spiritual discernment.

The limitations of human understanding are also reflected in the book of Job, where it is rhetorically asked, "Can you fathom the mystery of God? Or can you probe the limits of the Almighty?" ^[4]. This rhetorical question emphasizes the vast chasm between human capability and divine nature, suggesting that human inquiry has its bounds.

According to John Gill, human reasonings against God and His purposes are "casting down imaginations" that are disproved and confounded by the preaching of the Word ^[6]. This view is supported by the understanding that the deep counsels of God's heart and the scheme of salvation by Jesus Christ are beyond human comprehension by natural means ^[7].

The Psalmist acknowledges that even perfection has its limits, affirming that humans cannot fully understand God's ways ^[8]. This sentiment is echoed in the interpretation of Deuteronomy 8:2, which suggests that God's actions are sometimes beyond human comprehension, serving to reveal character rather than to be fully understood by human minds ^[9].

one commentary tradition on Romans 1:21 explains that humans, despite having some knowledge of God, fail to glorify Him or be thankful, leading to vain imaginations and a darkened heart ^[10]. This commentary highlights the consequences of not acknowledging God's majesty and the limitations it imposes on human understanding.

Reformed tradition, as represented by Calvin, emphasizes the need to understand the union of God's majesty with human nature in Jesus Christ to approach God without being overwhelmed by His majesty ^[11]. This underscores the Christian belief that understanding God is facilitated through the person of Jesus Christ.

The limitations of human reason are not just a Pauline theme; they are woven throughout Scripture. The complexity and depth of divine knowledge are acknowledged across various biblical texts, cautioning against the presumption that human intellect can fully grasp God's nature or purposes.

In the view of Adam Clarke, the spiritual gifts, such as speaking in tongues, were not merely about conveying information in a foreign language but involved a deeper spiritual communication that transcended human understanding ^[12]. This interpretation highlights the mysterious nature of spiritual experiences and the limitations of human comprehension in such matters.

The biblical emphasis on the limitations of human reason serves as a reminder of the humility required in approaching divine truths. It underscores the necessity of spiritual discernment and the role of faith in understanding God's revelation.

The doctrine of predestination or election, as discussed in Easton's Bible Dictionary, is among the "secret things" of God, belonging to the realm that is beyond human full comprehension ^[5]. This doctrine, along with others, illustrates the complex interplay between divine sovereignty and human understanding.

Sources

Romans “Because, knowing God, they didn’t glorify him as God, neither gave thanks, but became vain in their reasoning, and their senseless heart was darkened. -- Romans 1:21”
1 Corinthians “1 Corinthians 2:14 (NASB) — But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised.”
I Corinthians “I Corinthians 2:14 (LEB) — But the natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he is not able to understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.”
Job ““Can you fathom the mystery of God? Or can you probe the limits of the Almighty? -- Job 11:7”
Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Predestination — This word is properly used only with reference to God's plan or purpose of salvation. The Greek word rendered "predestinate" is found only in these six passages, Acts 4:28; Rom. 8:29, 30; 1 Cor. 2:7; Eph. 1:5, 11; and in all of them it has the same meaning. They teach that the eternal, sovereign, immutable, and unconditional decree or "determinate purpose" of God governs all events. This doctrine of predestination or election is beset with many difficulties. It belongs to the "secret things" of God. But if we take the revealed word of God as our guid”
2 Corinthians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 2 Corinthians 10:5: Casting down imaginations,.... Or "reasonings"; the carnal reasonings of the minds of natural men against God, his providences and purposes, against Christ, and the methods of salvation, and every truth of the Gospel; which are all disproved, silenced, and confounded, by the preaching of the word, which though reckoned the foolishness and weakness of God, appears to be wiser and stronger than men; and whereby the wisdom of the wise is destroyed, and the understanding of the prudent brought to nothing: and every high thing that exalteth itself against the know”
1 Corinthians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 1 Corinthians 2:15: For who hath known the mind of the Lord,.... The deep counsels of his heart, the scheme of salvation by Jesus Christ, as drawn in his eternal mind, the sense of the Spirit of God in the writings of the Old Testament, the things of the Spirit of God, or the doctrines of grace more clearly revealed under the Gospel dispensation; not any natural man, by the light of truth and strength of reason, has known any of these things. The apostle either cites or alludes to Isa 40:13 that he may instruct him? not the Lord, who needs no instruction from any, nor can any tea”
Psalms (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Psalms 119:96: 119:96 Even perfection has its limits: Humans cannot fully understand God’s ways (see Eccl 3:11).”
Deuteronomy (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Deuteronomy 8:2: 8:2 to prove your character (literally to know what is in your heart): God already knew the Israelites’ innermost thoughts (Pss 51:6; 139:1, 4, 23); he wanted their character to come out in their actions. • to find out whether: The Old Testament often describes God in human terms, even in ways that appear to limit God. Anthropomorphism (assigning human characteristics to God) and anthropopathism (assigning human feelings or emotions to God) are ways of representing God on a human level so the human mind can better grasp his ways, but God is not limited in his ”
Romans (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Romans 1:21: Because that, when they knew God--that is, while still retaining some real knowledge of Him, and ere they sank down into the state next to be described. they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful--neither yielded the adoration due to Himself, nor rendered the gratitude which His beneficence demanded. but became vain--(compare Jer 2:5). in their imaginations--thoughts, notions, speculations, regarding God; compare Mat 15:19; Luk 2:35; Co1 3:20, Greek. and their foolish--"senseless," "stupid." heart--that is, their whole inner man. ”
CCEL (Reformed) “Calvin, Commentary on 1-2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon, section 15.6: the Devil wished, as far as he could, to destroy that knowledge, or rather to mix it with his lies, so as to be perverted. On the other hand, when we see that there is such majesty in God, how shall we dare to approach unto Him, seeing that we are full of misery? We must therefore come to this union of the majesty of God with human nature. And thus, in every respect, till we have known the divine majesty that is in Jesus Christ, and our human weakness which he hath taken upon him, it is impossible for us to have any hope, or to ”
1 Corinthians (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on 1 Corinthians 14:2: For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue - This chapter is crowded with difficulties. It is not likely that the Holy Spirit should, in the church, suddenly inspire a man with the knowledge of some foreign language, which none in the church understood but himself; and lead him to treat the mysteries of Christianity in that language, though none in the place could profit by his teaching. Dr. Lightfoot's mode of reconciling these difficulties is the most likely I have met with. He supposes that by the unknown tongue the Hebrew is meant, and that God restored th”

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