1 Corinthians 2 · Verse 12

1 Corinthians 2:12

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.

1 Corinthians 2:12, King James Version

1 Corinthians 2:12 in other translations

BSB	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.
WEB	But we received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is from God, that we might know the things that were freely given to us by God.
ASV	But we received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is from God; that we might know the things that were freely given to us of God.
YLT	And we the spirit of the world did not receive, but the Spirit that is of God, that we may know the things conferred by God on us,
DARBY	But we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is of God, that we may know the things which have been freely given to us of God:
BBE	But we have not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which comes from God, so that we may have knowledge of the things which are freely given to us by God.
Webster	Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is from God; that we may know the things that are freely given to us by God.

What does 1 Corinthians 2:12 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

12. 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 God--present experimental knowledge, to our unspeakable comfort, of His deep mysteries of wisdom, and of our future possession of the good "things which God hath prepared for them that love Him" (1Co 2:9).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes

Verse 12. Now 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 the 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 truth which we have, are not such as this world gives, but are such as are communicated by the Spirit of God.

But the Spirit which is of God. We are under the teachings and influence of the Holy Spirit.

That we might know. That we might fully understand and appreciate. The Spirit is given to us, in order that we might fully understand the favours which God has conferred on us in the gospel. It was not only necessary that God should grant the blessings of redemption by the gift of his Son; but, such was the hardness and blindness of the human heart, it was needful that he should grant his Holy Spirit also, that men might be brought fully to see and appreciate the value of those favours. For men do not see them by nature; neither does any one see them who is not enlightened by the Holy Spirit of God.

The things that are freely given us. That are conferred on us as a matter of grace or favour. He here refers to the blessings of redemption; the pardon of sin, justification, sanctification, the Divine favour and protection, and the hope of eternal life. These things we know; they are not matters of conjecture, but are surely and certainly confirmed to us by the Holy Spirit. It is possible for all Christians to know and be fully assured of the truth of those things, and of their interest in them.

(c) "the spirit" Rom 8:15 (d) "we might know" 1Jn 5:20 (*) "of God" "By God"

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 12 Now 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 Him in a carnal and worldly sense. That we might know the things - We receive this teaching that we may know what those supereminently excellent things are which God has purposed freely to give to mankind. It is evident that, as the apostle means by princes of the world the rulers of the Jews, 1Cor 2:6-8, so by spirit of the world he here means Jewish wisdom, or their carnal mode of interpreting the sacred oracles, and their carnal expectation of a worldly kingdom under the Messiah.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 1 Corinthians 2:10-16

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…

Read the full comment on 1 Corinthians 2:10-16 →

1 Corinthians 2:12 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ἡμεῖςhēmeisWe ourselvesG3165

δὲdenowG1161

οὐounotG3756

τὸtotheG3588

πνεῦμαpneumaspiritG4151

τοῦtouof theG3588

κόσμουkosmouworldG2889

ἐλάβομενelabomenhave receivedG2983

ἀλλὰallabutG235

τὸtotheG3588

πνεῦμαpneumaSpiritG4151

τὸtowho [is]G3588

ἐκekfromG1537

τοῦtou<the>G3588

θεοῦ,theouGod,G2316

ἵναinathatG2443

εἰδῶμενeidōmenwe may know

τὰtathe [things]G3588

ὑπὸhupobyG5259

τοῦtou<the>G3588

θεοῦtheouGodG2316

χαρισθένταcharisthentahaving been grantedG5483

ἡμῖν·hēminto us;G3165

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for 1 Corinthians 2:12

1 John 2:27
But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.
Romans 8:5-6
For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
1 John 2:20
But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things.
1 John 5:19-20
And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness. And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may 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.
1 John 4:4-5
Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.
John 16:14-15
He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you.
Romans 8:15-16
For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
Romans 8:1
There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
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.
Romans 8:32
He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?
James 4:5
Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?
Ephesians 2:2
Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

not.
6; Ro 8:1,5,6; 2Co 4:4; Eph 2:2; Jas 4:5; 1Jo 4:4,5; 5:19; Re 12:9
but.
Ro 8:15,16
that.
3:22; Joh 16:14,15; Ro 8:32; 1Jo 2:20,27; 5:20; Re 22:6

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

1 Corinthians 2:11
For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.
1 Corinthians 2:12
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.
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.

Read all of 1 Corinthians 2

1 Corinthians 2:12 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	Y nosotros hemos recibido, no el espíritu del mundo, sino el Espíritu que es de Dios, para que conozcamos lo que Dios nos ha dado;
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	Mais nous, nous avons reçu, non l’esprit du monde, mais l’Esprit qui est de Dieu, afin que nous connaissions les choses qui nous ont été librement données par Dieu;
German Elberfelder 1871	Wir aber haben nicht den Geist der Welt empfangen, sondern den Geist, der aus Gott ist, auf daß wir die Dinge kennen, die uns von Gott geschenkt sind;
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Nos autem non spiritum hujus mundi accepimus, sed Spiritum qui ex Deo est, ut sciamus quæ a Deo donata sunt nobis: