English Standard Version
1 Corinthians 2:3
3And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much 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.
- New King James Version (NKJV)I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling.
- New Living Translation (NLT)I came to you in weakness—timid and trembling.
Context of 1 Corinthians 2:3
1And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. 2For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, 4and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in 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 fools for Christ's sake, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are held in honor, but we in disrepute.
- Acts 17:1Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews.
- Acts 20:18And when they came to him, he said to them: "You yourselves know how I lived among you the whole time from the first day that I set foot in Asia,
- 2 Corinthians 4:1Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart.
- 2 Corinthians 6:4but as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: by great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities,
- 2 Corinthians 7:5For even when we came into Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were afflicted at every turn—fighting without and fear within.
- 2 Corinthians 10:1I, Paul, myself entreat you, by the meekness and gentleness of Christ—I who am humble when face to face with you, but bold toward you when I am away!—
- 2 Corinthians 11:29Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to fall, and I am not indignant?
- 2 Corinthians 12:5On behalf of this man I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except of my weaknesses—
- 2 Corinthians 13:4For he was crucified in weakness, but lives by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but in dealing with you we will live with him by the power of God.
- Galatians 4:13You know it was because of a bodily ailment that I preached the gospel to you at first,
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
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
Commentaries