1 Corinthians 2 10

1 Corinthians 2:10 kjv

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

1 Corinthians 2:10 nkjv

But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.

1 Corinthians 2:10 niv

these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.

1 Corinthians 2:10 esv

these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God.

1 Corinthians 2:10 nlt

But it was to us that God revealed these things by his Spirit. For his Spirit searches out everything and shows us God's deep secrets.

1 Corinthians 2 verses

1 Corinthians 2 10 Meaning

God's profound wisdom, previously hidden from human understanding and inaccessible to worldly rulers, has been graciously disclosed to believers through the Holy Spirit. This is because the Spirit possesses complete and inherent knowledge of God, diligently searching and understanding even the deepest and most secret aspects of the Divine nature, will, and purposes, making it possible for Him to reveal these truths to those who have God's Spirit.

1 Corinthians 2 10 Context

First Corinthians chapter 2 establishes a clear distinction between worldly wisdom and God's wisdom, which is central to Paul's argument against the intellectual arrogance and factionalism within the Corinthian church. Paul begins by stating that he came to them not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in weakness, fear, and much trembling, focusing only on Christ crucified (1 Cor 2:1-5). He argues that human eloquence and philosophical prowess are insufficient for understanding spiritual truth, and often obscure it. Instead, Paul presents a divine wisdom that is "secret and hidden," predestined by God for His glory, and unrecognized by the "rulers of this age" who crucified Christ (1 Cor 2:6-8). Verse 9 quotes Isaiah 64:4, emphasizing that this divine wisdom is beyond human comprehension – "What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love Him." Verse 10 immediately follows as the answer to how this inaccessible wisdom is known: it is revealed by God through His Spirit, emphasizing the necessity and uniqueness of the Holy Spirit's role in conveying divine truth.

1 Corinthians 2 10 Word analysis

• For (Greek: γάρ, gar): A causal conjunction. It introduces the explanation for why the "rulers of this age" (v. 8) did not understand God's hidden wisdom, and why it is known to others. It connects verse 10 directly to the preceding verses.
• to us (Greek: ἡμῖν, hēmin): Refers initially to Paul and the apostles, who were the first recipients of this revelation for the purpose of communicating it. However, in the broader context of Paul's letters, it extends to all believers who possess the Holy Spirit (as clarified in subsequent verses, especially 1 Cor 2:12-13). It contrasts sharply with "the rulers of this age" mentioned in verse 8.
• God (Greek: ὁ Θεός, ho Theos): Emphasizes God the Father as the ultimate source and initiator of this profound revelation. He is the one who chooses to disclose His hidden wisdom.
• has revealed (Greek: ἀπεκάλυψεν, apekalysen): A strong Greek word meaning "unveiled," "uncovered," or "disclosed." It's from apokalyptō, the root of "apocalypse" (revelation). The aorist tense denotes a completed, decisive act of God, implying a historical reality where divine truth was made known. This action makes accessible what was previously hidden.
• them: Refers back to the "things God prepared for those who love Him" (v. 9) and the "God's wisdom, hidden in a mystery" (v. 7). These are the profound, spiritual truths and purposes of God concerning salvation through Christ.
• through the Spirit (Greek: διὰ τοῦ Πνεύματος, dia tou Pneumatos): "Through" (dia) indicates the instrumental means or agent by which God's revelation is conveyed. The Holy Spirit is not merely a messenger but the divine power and consciousness within the Godhead that communicates divine truths to humanity.
• for (Greek: γάρ, gar): Another causal conjunction, explaining why the Spirit is capable of revealing these things. It introduces the Spirit's intrinsic nature and qualifications for this revelatory task.
• the Spirit (Greek: τὸ Πνεῦμα, to Pneuma): The Holy Spirit, the third person of the Trinity. This clause highlights the Spirit's divine attributes, specifically His intimate knowledge of God.
• searches (Greek: ἐρευνᾷ, ereunā): An intense and thorough verb. It denotes deep and meticulous examination or inquiry. This isn't implying that the Spirit is seeking knowledge He doesn't possess, but rather that He perfectly and completely understands every aspect of God. The verb emphasizes the Spirit's comprehensive knowledge, leaving no stone unturned in God's being.
• everything (Greek: πάντα, panta): Signifies the totality of God's reality, thoughts, and plans. The Spirit knows all that is knowable about God, without exception.
• even the depths (Greek: καὶ τὰ βάθη, kai ta bathē): This phrase adds emphasis to "everything." "Depths" implies the most profound, hidden, mysterious, and complex aspects of God's being, purposes, and wisdom. It signifies the incomprehensible and unfathomable nature of God to anyone apart from Him. This directly answers how the wisdom mentioned in verse 7, "hidden in a mystery," is accessed.
• of God (Greek: τοῦ Θεοῦ, tou Theou): Specifies the object of the Spirit's deep knowledge and search. It affirms the Spirit's co-equality and intrinsic relationship within the Godhead, as only God Himself can truly comprehend the "depths of God."

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• For to us God has revealed them through the Spirit: This phrase encapsulates the core Christian understanding of revelation: it is God-initiated, aimed at a specific audience ("us," believers), and executed through the Holy Spirit. It highlights that human effort or intellect alone cannot attain this wisdom; it must be a divine unveiling.
• for the Spirit searches everything: This part justifies the Spirit's role as the agent of revelation. Because the Spirit possesses an all-encompassing knowledge of the divine, He is perfectly qualified to reveal God's thoughts and plans. This knowledge is not a limited understanding but a full, inherent comprehension.
• even the depths of God: This is the climax of the verse, emphasizing the profundity and intimacy of the Spirit's knowledge. It goes beyond surface-level truths to encompass the most hidden, intricate, and majestic aspects of God's being, character, and sovereign counsel. This reinforces the unique authority and nature of the Spirit as God.

1 Corinthians 2 10 Bonus section

This verse carries significant Trinitarian implications, as it powerfully portrays the Holy Spirit as fully God, sharing the divine consciousness and knowledge with the Father. Only one who is God can truly "search" or comprehensively know the "depths of God." This reinforces the Spirit's co-equality and co-eternality within the Godhead. It directly counters any notion that God's truth is purely intellectual or available to any spiritual quest without divine enablement. The emphasis on "us" being the recipients implies a transformative spiritual union—those who have the Spirit of God are enabled to receive what the world cannot. This concept became a key polemic against both humanistic wisdom and proto-Gnostic claims of secret knowledge gained through special intellectual understanding or esoteric rituals, demonstrating that true spiritual revelation comes solely through God's gracious self-disclosure via His Spirit.

1 Corinthians 2 10 Commentary

First Corinthians 2:10 is a pivotal verse that reveals the exclusive channel through which God's profound, hidden wisdom is apprehended: the Holy Spirit. It underscores that spiritual truth is not discerned by human intellect or worldly philosophy, which Paul dismisses as inadequate and antithetical to the cross. The "depths of God" signify His most intimate thoughts, eternal plans, and the very essence of His being, including the mystery of Christ and the plan of salvation. No created being, however intelligent, can access these depths. However, the Holy Spirit, being God Himself and intrinsically connected to the Father, possesses perfect and complete knowledge of all that God is and purposes. His "searching" does not imply discovery but rather exhaustive comprehension. Therefore, it is through the Spirit's indwelling presence and illumination that believers are granted insight into divine truths that remain inscrutable to the unregenerate mind. This revelation enables believers to genuinely understand and appreciate God's prepared wisdom. Practically, this means believers must depend entirely on the Holy Spirit for true spiritual understanding of Scripture, for discernment in life, and for perceiving God's will, recognizing that such understanding is a gracious gift rather than a human achievement.