Devine Scripture

1 Corinthians 2:10

What does 1 Corinthians 2:10 mean?

A plain-English look at 1 Corinthians 2:10 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What 1 Corinthians 2:10 means

What human perception cannot reach, “unto us God revealed… through the Spirit.” The Spirit searches everything, even “the deep things of God,” and so is uniquely qualified to disclose God’s plan. Revelation here is personal and effective: the same Spirit who knows God also makes God known to His people. This does not reduce truth to private feelings; rather, it grounds Christian understanding in God’s own self-disclosure. By stressing the Spirit’s role, Paul shows that grasping the cross and its blessings is not merely intellectual achievement but a gift from God, who delights to unveil His heart to those He redeems.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

But unto us God revealed them through the Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

But unto us God revealed them through the Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

But God has given us the revelation of these things through his Spirit, for the Spirit makes search into all things, even the deep things of God.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

but to us did God reveal <FI>them<Fi> through His Spirit, for the Spirit all things doth search, even the depths of God,

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

But to us God hath revealed them by his Spirit. For the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

butGod has revealed to us by [his] Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths ofGod.

Context

Verse 10 answers the puzzle raised in verse 9: if human faculties cannot discover God’s prepared things, how are they known? Through the Spirit’s revelation. The argument now moves to an analogy (v.11) about knowing a person’s inner thoughts, then to the believer’s reception of the Spirit (v.12), and finally to Spirit-taught words (v.13). The flow builds a case that Christian insight is Spirit-originated from start to finish, preparing for the contrast with the natural person in verses 14–16.

v.9but as it is written, Things which eye saw not, and ear heard not, Andwhichentered not into the heart of man, Whatsoever things God prepared for them that love him.

v.10This passage

v.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.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Luke 2:26

    And it had been revealed unto him by the Holy Spirit, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.

  • Ephesians 3:3

    how that by revelation was made known unto me the mystery, as I wrote before in few words,

  • Matthew 11:25

    At that season Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou didst hide these things from the wise and understanding, and didst reveal them unto babes:

  • John 14:26

    But the Comforter, even the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said unto you.

  • 1 John 2:27

    And as for you, the anointing which ye received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any one teach you; but as his anointing teacheth you concerning all things, and is true, and is no lie, and even as it taught you, ye abide in him.

  • Matthew 16:17

    And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-Jonah: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father who is in heaven.

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