1 Corinthians 2:12

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.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Paul writes to the Corinthian believers, mid-argument that spiritual truth is only discernible through the Spirit of God (vv. 11–13), and here he states the practical consequence for them.

The words — πνεῦμα (pneuma, "spirit") is used for both "the spirit of the world" and "the Spirit who is from God," the same noun carrying two opposed referents in a single sentence; the contrast lives entirely in the genitive phrases that follow.

The thread — 1 John 2:20 and 2:27 parallel the claim that believers already possess an anointing that enables them to know truth without external instruction; Romans 8:5 sets up the same flesh-versus-Spirit division of mind.

Why it lands — The verse locates the barrier to understanding not in human limitation but in which spirit one operates under; it asks the reader to examine whether their interpretive framework is already shaped by the world or by the Spirit.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Greek words

King James Version

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.

Cross-references

1 John 2:27 And as for you, the anointing you received from Him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But just as His true and genuine anointing teaches you about all things, so remain in Him as you have been taught.
Romans 8:5 Those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh; but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.
1 John 2:20 You, however, have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth.
1 John 5:19 We know that we are of God, and that the whole world is under the power of the evil one.
1 John 4:4 You, little children, are from God and have overcome them, because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.
John 16:14 He will glorify Me by taking from what is Mine and disclosing it to you.
Romans 8:15 For 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!”
Romans 8:1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
2 Corinthians 4:4 The 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.
Romans 8:32 He 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?