God’s Word Translation
1 Corinthians 2:3
3When I came to you, I was weak. I was afraid and very nervous.
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
1Brothers and sisters, when I came to you, I didn’t speak about God’s mystery as if it were some kind of brilliant message or wisdom. 2While I was with you, I decided to deal with only one subject—Jesus Christ, who was crucified. When I came to you, I was weak. I was afraid and very nervous. 4I didn’t speak my message with persuasive intellectual arguments. I spoke my message with a show of spiritual power 5so that your faith would not be based on human wisdom but on God’s power.
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 have given up our wisdom for Christ, but you have insight because of Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are honored, but we are dishonored.
- Acts 17:1Paul and Silas traveled through the cities of Amphipolis and Apollonia and came to the city of Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue.
- Acts 20:18When they were with him, he said to them, “You know how I spent all my time with you from the first day I arrived in the province of Asia.
- 2 Corinthians 4:1We don’t become discouraged, since God has given us this ministry through his mercy.
- 2 Corinthians 6:4Instead, our lives demonstrate that we are God’s servants. We have endured many things: suffering, distress, anxiety,
- 2 Corinthians 7:5Ever since we arrived in the province of Macedonia, we’ve had no rest. Instead, we suffer in a number of ways. Outwardly we have conflicts, and inwardly we have fears.
- 2 Corinthians 10:1I, Paul, make my appeal to you with the gentleness and kindness of Christ. I’m the one who is humble when I’m with you but forceful toward you when I’m not with you.
- 2 Corinthians 11:29When anyone is weak, I’m weak too. When anyone is caught in a trap, I’m also harmed.
- 2 Corinthians 12:5I’ll brag about this person, but I won’t brag about myself unless it’s about my weaknesses.
- 2 Corinthians 13:4He was weak when he was crucified, but by God’s power he lives. We are weak with him, but by God’s power we will live for you with his help.
- Galatians 4:13You know that the first time I brought you the Good News I was ill.
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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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