Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary 1 Corinthians 2:11

"For 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." — 1 Corinthians 2:11 (ASV)

“For” introduces an illustration that shows that the spiritual wisdom and truths of God can be understood only through the Holy Spirit, just as human wisdom needs the human spirit to understand it. The conclusion is that only the Holy Spirit can reveal God’s wisdom and truth to humankind. The concept of “spirit” (GK 4460) in this verse involves a real personality who thinks and acts; it is not an impersonal force.

By way of application, Paul states that it is the Spirit of God they have received. This is in contrast to some other kind of spirit through which some might try to know God’s wisdom and truth—whether the spirit of the wisdom of this world (1:20; 2:6; 3:19) or another kind of spirit (cf. 1Jn 4:2-6). The purpose of the Holy Spirit’s special work of revelation (v.10) is that “we may understand what [i.e., the truths] God has freely given us.”