1 Corinthians 2:1
When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God.
2 For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.
3 I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling.
Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God.
- KJV
- And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God.
- WEB
- When I came to you, brothers, I didn’t come with excellence of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God.
- ASV
- And I, brethren, when I came unto you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God.
- DARBY
- And *I*, when I came to you, brethren, came not in excellency of word, or wisdom, announcing to you the testimony of God.
- BLB
- And I, having come to you⁺, brothers, did not come according to excellence of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you⁺ the testimony of God.
- ÅB
- Og jeg, da jeg kom til dere, brødre, kom jeg ikke med mesterskap i tale eller i visdom og forkynte dere Guds vitnesbyrd;
- OTB
- Da jeg kom til dere, brødre og søstre, kom jeg ikke med overlegne taleferdigheter eller visdom, da jeg delte med dere Guds vitnesbyrd.
- B1930
- Og jeg, da jeg kom til eder, brødre, kom jeg ikke med mesterskap i tale eller i visdom og forkynte eder Guds vidnesbyrd;
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
1 Corinthians 1:17
For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with words of wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.
Read in context1 Corinthians 2:13
And this is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom, but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words.
Read in context1 Corinthians 2:4
My message and my preaching were not with persuasive words of wisdom, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power,
Read in contextExodus 4:10
“Please, Lord,” Moses replied, “I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since You have spoken to Your servant, for I am slow of speech and tongue.”
Read in contextRomans 16:18
For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive.
Read in context2 Timothy 1:8
So do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, or of me, His prisoner. Instead, join me in suffering for the gospel by the power of God.
Read in context1 John 5:11–13
And this is that testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.
Read in contextJeremiah 1:6–7
“Ah, Lord GOD,” I said, “I surely do not know how to speak, for I am only a child!”
Read in context