“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.”
My Notes
What Does 1 Corinthians 2:12 Mean?
Paul draws a sharp contrast: we received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is of God. Two spirits. One rejected. One received. And the purpose of receiving the Spirit of God: that we might KNOW the things freely given to us by God. The Spirit's purpose is knowledge — specifically, knowledge of the gifts God has freely given.
The "spirit of the world" (to pneuma tou kosmou) is the operating system of the world's thinking: human wisdom, worldly philosophy, the reasoning that evaluates everything from a natural perspective. The believers didn't receive that. They received something else: the Spirit from God — the one who searches the deep things of God (verse 10) and reveals what human wisdom can't access.
"That we might know" (eidōmen) is the purpose clause: the Spirit was given for knowing. Not just for power, not just for gifts, not just for experiences. For knowledge. Specifically: knowledge of "the things that are freely given to us of God." The Spirit's primary ministry is to help you understand what you've already received. The gifts are already given. The Spirit helps you know them.
Reflection Questions
- 1.Are you still operating on the 'spirit of the world' (human wisdom default) or the Spirit of God (revelatory access)?
- 2.What has God 'freely given' you that you don't yet know about — and is the Spirit revealing it?
- 3.Does the Spirit's primary purpose being knowledge (knowing what's given) surprise you — or do you expect spectacle first?
- 4.How does the Spirit function as a 'statement-reader' for your spiritual account — and are you checking the balance?
Devotional
We didn't receive the spirit of the world. We received the Spirit of God. So we could know what He's freely given us.
Paul identifies two spirits and declares which one the believers received: not the world's spirit (the operating system that evaluates everything by human wisdom) but the Spirit of God (the operating system that reveals what human wisdom can't access). The switch from one to the other is the conversion of the mind.
The spirit of the world: the default human framework. The lens that sees only what's visible. The wisdom that calculates only what's measurable. The reasoning that can analyze the surface but can't reach the depth. You came into the world with this spirit installed. It's the default.
The Spirit of God: the replacement framework. The lens that sees what's invisible. The wisdom that accesses what's immeasurable. The searching capacity that reaches "the deep things of God" (verse 10). You received this Spirit at conversion. It replaced the default.
"That we might know the things that are freely given to us" — the Spirit's purpose isn't primarily spectacular (though He does spectacular things). It's revelatory: He shows you what you've already received. The gifts God has freely given are already yours. The Spirit's job is to make you aware of what's already in your account.
The freely-given-things (ta charisthenta — grace-gifts, things given by grace) are already deposited. Righteousness. Adoption. Forgiveness. Spiritual gifts. The inheritance. The access to the Father. All of it — already given. Already in the account. And the Spirit was received so you'd know it's there.
The Spirit is the statement-reader for your spiritual bank account: the deposits were made by God. The Spirit shows you the balance. Without the Spirit, you don't know what you have. With the Spirit, the freely-given-things become known.
You have more than you know. And the Spirit was given to change that.
Commentary
Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.
Which things also we speak,.... Namely, the things which have not been seen by the eye, heard by the ear, or understood…
Now we have received - We who are Christians; and especially we, the apostles. The following verse shows that he had…
Now we have received, not the spirit of the world - We, who are the genuine apostles of Christ, have received this…
In this part of the chapter the apostle shows them that though he had not come to them with the excellency of human…
Now we have received Literally, we received, i.e. when we became disciples.
that we might know The word here signifies…
Cross References
Related passages throughout Scripture