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 Living Translation (NLT)And we have received God’s Spirit (not the world’s spirit), so we can know the wonderful things God has freely given us.

Context of 1 Corinthians 2:12

10But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. 11For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. 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. 13These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 14But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know 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

Words taken from the KJV.

• Nowδέde · thenG1161
• weἐγώegō · I/weG1473
• have receivedλαμβάνωlambanō · to takeG2983
• notοὐou · noG3756
• the spiritὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• the spiritπνεῦμαpneuma · spirit/breath: spiritG4151
• of the worldκόσμοςkosmos · worldG2889
• butἀλλάalla · butG235
• ofἐκek ex · out fromG1537
• Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
• thatἵναhina · in order that/toG2443
• we might knowεἴδωeidō · to perceive: understandG1492
• are freely givenχαρίζωcharizomai · to give graceG5483
• ofὑπόhupo · by/under: byG5259

Cross-references for 1 Corinthians 2:12

• 1 Corinthians 2:6However, we speak wisdom among those who are mature, yet not the wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing.
• Romans 8:1There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.
• 2 Corinthians 4:4whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.
• Ephesians 2:2in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience,
• James 4:5Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, “The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously”?
• 1 John 4:4You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.
• 1 John 5:19We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one.
• Revelation 12:9So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
• Romans 8:15For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.”
• 1 Corinthians 3:22whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas, or the world or life or death, or things present or things to come—all are yours.
• John 16:14He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you.
• Romans 8:32He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?
• 1 John 2:20But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things.
• 1 John 5:20And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding, that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life.
• Revelation 22:6Then he said to me, “These words are faithful and true.” And the Lord God of the holy prophets sent His angel to show His servants the things which must shortly 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