Amplified Bible
1 Corinthians 2:3
3I came to you in [a state of] weakness and fear and great trembling.
1 Corinthians 2:3 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.
- New International Version (NIV)I came to you in weakness with great fear and trembling.
- English Standard Version (ESV)And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling,
- New King James Version (NKJV)I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling.
Context of 1 Corinthians 2:3
1And when I came to you, brothers and sisters, proclaiming to you the testimony of God [concerning salvation through Christ], I did not come with superiority of speech or of wisdom [no lofty words of eloquence or of philosophy as a Greek orator might do]; 2for I made the decision to know nothing [that is, to forego philosophical or theological discussions regarding inconsequential things and opinions while] among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified [and the meaning of His redemptive, substitutionary death and His resurrection]. I came to you in [a state of] weakness and fear and great trembling. 4And my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom [using clever rhetoric], but [they were delivered] in demonstration of the [Holy] Spirit [operating through me] and of [His] power [stirring the minds of the listeners and persuading them], 5so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom and rhetoric of men, but on the power of God.
Read all of 1 Corinthians 21 Corinthians 2:3 word by word
κἀγὼ ἐν ἀσθενείᾳ καὶ ἐν φόβῳ καὶ ἐν τρόμῳ πολλῷ ἐγενόμην πρὸς ὑμᾶς·Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for 1 Corinthians 2:3
- 1 Corinthians 4:10We are [regarded as] fools for Christ, but you are so wise in Christ; we are weak, but you are strong; you are highly esteemed, but we are dishonored.
- Acts 17:1Now after Paul and Silas had traveled through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews.
- Acts 20:18And when they arrived he said to them: “You know well how I [lived when I] was with you, from the first day that I set foot in Asia [until now],
- 2 Corinthians 4:1Therefore, since we have this ministry, just as we received mercy [from God, granting us salvation, opportunities, and blessings], we do not get discouraged nor lose our motivation.
- 2 Corinthians 6:4but we commend ourselves in every way as servants of God: in great endurance, in sufferings, in hardships, in distresses,
- 2 Corinthians 7:5For even when we arrived in Macedonia our bodies had no rest, but we were oppressed at every turn—conflicts and disputes without, fears and dread within.
- 2 Corinthians 10:1Now I, Paul, urge you by the gentleness and graciousness of Christ—I who am meek [so they say] when with you face to face, but bold [outspoken and fearless] toward you when absent!
- 2 Corinthians 11:29Who is weak, and I do not feel [his] weakness? Who is made to sin, and I am not on fire [with sorrow and concern]?
- 2 Corinthians 12:5On behalf of such a man [and his experiences] I will boast; but in my own behalf I will not boast, except in regard to my weaknesses.
- 2 Corinthians 13:4For even though He was crucified in weakness [yielding Himself], yet He lives [resurrected] by the power of God [His Father]. For we too are weak in Him [as He was humanly weak], yet we are alive and well [in fellowship] with Him because of the power of God directed toward you.
- Galatians 4:13On the contrary, you know that it was because of a physical illness that I [remained and] preached the gospel to you the first time;
Commentaries on 1 Corinthians 2:3
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 3I was with you in weakness - It is very likely that St. Paul had not only something in his speech very unfavourable to a ready and powerful elocution, but also some infirmity of body that was still more disadvantageous to him. A fine appearance and a fine voice cover many weaknesses and defects, and strongly and forcibly recommend what is spoken, though not remarkable for depth of thought or solidity of reasoning. Many popular orators have little besides…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 3And I was with you - Paul continued there at least a year and six months. Acts 18:11. In weakness - In conscious feebleness; diffident of my own powers, and not trusting to my own strength. And in fear, and in much trembling - Paul was sensible that he had many enemies to encounter Acts 18:6.; and he was sensible of his own natural disadvantages as a public speaker, 2 Corinthians 10:10. He knew too, how much the Greeks valued a manly and elegant species…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 3-4Human weakness does not stop God's work (2 Corinthians 12:7–10). The true power is not in charismatic preaching, presentation skills, or logical arguments (compare 2 Corinthians 10:10). It is in the message itself, focused on Christ and his death for our sins. It is also in the power of the Holy Spirit, who touches the human heart.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 33. I--the preacher: as 1Co 2:2 describes the subject, "Christ crucified," and 1Co 2:4 the mode of preaching: "my speech ... not with enticing words," "but in demonstration of the Spirit." weakness--personal and bodily (2Co 10:10; 12:7, 9; Ga 4:13). trembling--(compare Php 2:12). Not personal fear, but a trembling anxiety to perform a duty; anxious conscientiousness, as proved by the contrast to "eye service" (Ep 6:5) [Conybeare and Howson].Read the comment
Topics related to 1 Corinthians 2:3
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on 1 Corinthians 2
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Illustrated New Testament
- Burkitt’s Expository Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Family Bible Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- The People’s New Testament
- Robertson’s Word Pictures
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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