1 Corinthians 2:12 - Exposition

The spirit of the world. The heathen world in its heathen aspect is regarded as under the power of the devil ( 2 Corinthians 4:4 ; Ephesians 6:11 , Ephesians 6:12 ). Freely given to us by God. The word "freely" is here involved in the verb ( χαρισθέντα ) "graciously bestowed." It is different from the phrase used in "Freely ye have received," which is gratuitously ( δωρεὰν , Matthew 10:8 ). All God's gifts are "without money and without price" (Is 55:1), and not "to be bought with money" ( Acts 18:20 ).