Yes—unbelievers find the Bible foolish because they cannot receive the things of the Spirit of God.
The Bible states that the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit; they are foolishness to him, and he cannot know them since they are spiritually discerned (1 Corinthians 2:14). Les Feldick explains that the natural man is spiritually dead and the Bible is a closed book to him. Until a person is saved and the Holy Spirit enlightens him, the deep truths remain beyond his comprehension.
1 Corinthians 2:14 — This verse directly answers the question by stating the natural man finds the things of the Spirit to be foolishness and cannot know them.
The Bible's answer centers on 1 Corinthians 2:14: "But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." This verse directly addresses the question: the natural man, the person living apart from the Spirit, does not receive the things of the Spirit; they are foolishness to him. He cannot know them because they require spiritual discernment. The same truth appears in 1 Corinthians 1:18: "For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God." The cross, the central message of Scripture, is dismissed as foolishness by those who are perishing. And 2 Corinthians 4:4 indicates that "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."
Les Feldick explains that the reason unbelievers find the Bible foolish is that they are spiritually dead because they are still living under the old Adam (clips 1, 6). The Bible is a closed book to them (clip 0). While an unbeliever may grasp some stories or miracles, the deep things of Scripture remain impossible to comprehend until salvation (clip 2). The gospel is hidden from them, and the god of this world has blinded their minds (clip 3). Because they are in the natural realm, the things of the Spirit are foolishness to them (clip 4). Les emphasizes that believers should be patient with unbelievers, since it is God who opens eyes and hearts in His own timing (clip 4). The world's reaction to Bible studies is typical; as one lady's neighbors said, "we're not into that stuff" (clip 7).
Les teaches that the natural man is spiritually dead (clip 1). Because of his old Adam nature, he cannot comprehend spiritual truths; they are foolishness to him (clips 4, 6). Paul's statement in 1 Corinthians 2:14 shows that spiritual things require spiritual discernment, which the natural man lacks.
Les notes that an unbeliever may be able to read the stories and miracles and get something from them, but when it comes to the "basic deep things of Scripture," no one can understand them until they become a child of God (clip 2). The closed book is especially true of doctrinal and prophetic truths.
Les advises patience. He says he doesn't care if it takes three years for someone to come to the place of understanding the gospel, because they cannot comprehend these things until God opens their eyes and hearts (clip 4). The world's rejection—like neighbors saying "we're not into that stuff"—should not shock us (clip 7).
Closed book to unbelievers
Les explains that the Bible is a closed book to the unbeliever and goes over his head. Believers, even those who are infantile, find it understandable and grow in experience.
Spiritually dead cannot receive
Les states the natural man is spiritually dead and cannot receive the things of the Spirit, which are foolishness to him. Once a person becomes a believer, the whole thing opens up.
Deep truths impossible before salvation
Les says an unbeliever may read stories and miracles, but the deep things of Scripture are impossible to comprehend until one becomes a child of God, illustrated by a gentleman who attended for three years.
Gospel hid and minds blinded
Les teaches that the gospel is hidden from the lost and that the god of this world has blinded the minds of those who believe not.
Foolishness until God opens eyes
Les reiterates that the natural man receiveth not the things of God and cannot know them because they are spiritually discerned. He urges patience, since God opens eyes in His own timing.
World's wisdom versus gospel
Les notes that the world sees the gospel as foolishness, but to those saved it is the power of God. To gain wisdom, one must go to what the world thinks is foolishness.
Natural man cannot comprehend
Les says we cannot comprehend spiritual things from the natural man; a salvation experience and the Holy Spirit's enlightenment are necessary. Those still under the old Adam will never comprehend until they know Christ.
World thinks it's foolishness
Les gives the example of a lady whose neighbors rejected a Bible study invitation, saying 'we're not into that stuff.' The world considers assurance and holiness to be foolishness.
1 Corinthians 2:14: But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
This is the key verse that directly states the natural man finds the things of God to be foolishness.
1 Corinthians 2:13: Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
Les quotes this to show that spiritual truths are communicated by the Holy Spirit and require spiritual comparison.
1 Corinthians 1:18: For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
This verse reinforces that the gospel is considered foolishness by those who are perishing.
2 Corinthians 4:4: 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.
This explains the spiritual blindness that prevents unbelievers from seeing the gospel's light.
1 Corinthians 3:19: For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God: for it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.
Les mentions this to contrast worldly wisdom with God's wisdom—what the world values is foolishness to God.
Les Feldick explains that spiritual things can only be understood through the Spirit. The natural man 'receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God' because they require spiritual discernment (1 Corinthians 2:14). As Les says, once a person becomes a believer, the Holy Spirit enlightens him and the Scriptures begin to open up.
In clip 0, Les says the Bible is a closed book to the unbeliever and that it 'goes over his head.' In clip 6, he adds that people who cannot get anything from the Word are still in the natural, still under the old Adam, and will not comprehend until they have a salvation experience.
Les says an unbeliever may read the stories and miracles and get something out of them, but the basic deep things of Scripture are impossible to understand until they become a child of God (clip 2). So they can grasp familiar accounts, but the core spiritual truths remain foolishness to them.
Watch the Teaching: Why Unbelievers Can't Understand the Bible — 1 Corinthians 2 Explained