1 Corinthians 2:12

1 Corinthians 2:12 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
• New International Version (NIV)What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.

Context of 1 Corinthians 2:12

10But God has revealed it to us by the Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. 11For who among men knows the thoughts of man except his own spirit within him? So too, no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. We have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. 13And this is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom, but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words. 14The natural man does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God. For they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.

1 Corinthians 2:12 word by word

ἡμεῖς δὲ οὐ τὸ πνεῦμα τοῦ κόσμου ἐλάβομεν ἀλλὰ τὸ πνεῦμα τὸ ἐκ τοῦ θεοῦ, ἵνα εἰδῶμεν τὰ ὑπὸ τοῦ θεοῦ χαρισθέντα ἡμῖν·Read the interlinear

• ·δέde · thenG1161
• Weἐγώegō · I/weG1473
• have not receivedλαμβάνωlambanō · to takeG2983
• have not receivedοὐou · noG3756
• theὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• spiritπνεῦμαpneuma · spirit/breath: spiritG4151
• worldκόσμοςkosmos · worldG2889
• butἀλλάalla · butG235
• fromἐκek ex · out fromG1537
• Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
• thatἵναhina · in order that/toG2443
• we may understandεἴδωeidō · to perceive: understandG1492
• ·ὑπόhupo · by/under: byG5259
• has freely givenχαρίζωcharizomai · to give graceG5483

Cross-references for 1 Corinthians 2:12

• 1 Corinthians 2:6Among the mature, however, we speak a message of wisdom—but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing.
• Romans 8:1Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
• 2 Corinthians 4:4The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
• Ephesians 2:2in which you used to walk when you conformed to the ways of this world and of the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit who is now at work in the sons of disobedience.
• James 4:5Or do you think the Scripture says without reason that the Spirit He caused to dwell in us yearns with envy?
• 1 John 4:4You, little children, are from God and have overcome them, because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.
• 1 John 5:19We know that we are of God, and that the whole world is under the power of the evil one.
• Revelation 12:9And the great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.
• Romans 8:15For you did not receive a spirit of slavery that returns you to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption to sonship, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!”
• 1 Corinthians 3:22whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future. All of them belong to you,
• John 16:14He will glorify Me by taking from what is Mine and disclosing it to you.
• Romans 8:32He who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also, along with Him, freely give us all things?
• 1 John 2:20You, however, have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth.
• 1 John 5:20And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true—in His Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.
• Revelation 22:6Then the angel said to me, “These words are faithful and true. The Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, has sent His angel to show His servants what must soon take place.”

Commentaries on 1 Corinthians 2:12

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 12Now we have received, not the spirit of the world - We, who are the genuine apostles of Christ, have received this Spirit of God, by which we know the deep things of God; and, through the teaching of that Spirit, we preach Christ crucified. We have not therefore received the spirit of the world - of the Jewish teachers, who are all looking for a worldly kingdom and a worldly Messiah, and interpret all the scriptures of the Old Testament which relate to…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 12Now we have received - We who are Christians; and especially we, the apostles. The following verse shows that he had himself and the other apostles chiefly in view; though it is true of all Christians that they have received, not the spirit of this world, but the spirit which is of God. Not the spirit of this world - Not the wisdom and knowledge which this world can give - not the learning and philosophy which were so much valued in Greece. The views of…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 10-16Verses 10-16 God has revealed true wisdom to us by his Spirit. Here is a proof of the Divine authority of the Holy Scriptures, 2Pe 1:21. In proof of the Divinity of the Holy Ghost, observe, that he knows all things, and he searches all things, even the deep things of God. No one can know the things of God, but his Holy Spirit, who is one with the Father and the Son, and who makes known Divine mysteries to his church. This is most clear testimony, both to…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 10-12God has revealed it to us: Those who believe in Christ and have received his Spirit (see 1 Corinthians 6:19; 12:13; Galatians 3:2; Ephesians 1:13; Titus 3:5) are different from the rulers of this world (1 Corinthians 2:8). We cannot understand God's deep secrets through worldly wisdom or philosophy. Only God's Spirit can reveal God's thoughts to his people (see 1 John 2:20, 27; compare Matthew 11:25–27). God has kindly given his Spirit to his people so…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1212. we ... received, not ... spirit of ... world--the personal evil "spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience" (Ep 2:2). This spirit is natural in the unregenerate, and needs not to be received. Spirit which is of God--that is, which comes from God. We have received it only by the gift of God, whose Spirit it is, whereas our own spirit is the spirit that is in us men (1Co 2:11). that we might know ... things ... freely given ... of…Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Corinthians 2:12

• Holy Spirit
• Preaching
• Reasoning
• Regeneration
• Righteous
• Wisdom
• Word of God

In the dictionaries

• God
• god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry
• Corinthians, First Epistle to the
• Judge
• Lord
• Mystery
• Spiritually
• Testimony
• Wisdom
• Corinthians, First Epistle to the

Commentaries on 1 Corinthians 2

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings