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 unto us God revealed them through the Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. 11For who among men knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of the man, which is in him? even so the things of God none knoweth, save the Spirit of God. But we 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 by God. 13Which things also we speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Spirit teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 14Now the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him; and he cannot know them, because they are spiritually judged.

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

• Butδέde · thenG1161
• weἡμεῖςhēmeis · weG2249
• receivedλαμβάνωlambanō · to takeG2983
• notοὐou · noG3756
• theὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• spiritπνεῦμαpneuma · spirit/breath: spiritG4151
• ofἐκek ex · out fromG1537
• worldκόσμοςkosmos · worldG2889
• Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
• thatἵναhina · in order that/toG2443
• knowεἴδωeidō · to perceive: understandG1492
• freelyχαρίζωcharizomai · to give graceG5483
• byὑπόhupo · by/under: byG5259

Cross-references for 1 Corinthians 2:12

• 1 Corinthians 2:6Howbeit we speak wisdom among the perfect: yet a wisdom not of this world, nor of the rulers of this world, which are coming to nought:
• Romans 8:1There is therefore now no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus.
• 2 Corinthians 4:4in whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of the unbelieving, that the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should not dawn upon them.
• Ephesians 2:2wherein aforetime ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that now worketh in the sons of disobedience;
• James 4:5Or think ye that the scripture speaketh in vain? Doth the spirit which he made to dwell in us long unto envying?
• 1 John 4:4Ye are of God, my little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world.
• 1 John 5:19We know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in the evil one.
• Revelation 12:9And the great dragon was cast down, the old serpent, he that is called the Devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world; he was cast down to the earth, and his angels were cast down with him.
• Romans 8:15For ye received not the spirit of bondage again unto fear; but ye received the spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, 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 shall glorify me: for he shall take of mine, and shall declare it unto you.
• Romans 8:32He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not also with him freely give us all things?
• 1 John 2:20And ye have an anointing from the Holy One, and ye know all things.
• 1 John 5:20And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.
• Revelation 22:6And he said unto me, These words are faithful and true: and the Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, sent his angel to shew unto his servants the things which must shortly come to pass.

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