1 Corinthians 2:3

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, brethren, I did not come with superiority of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God. 2For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified. I was with you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling, 4and my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God.

1 Corinthians 2:3 word by word

κἀγὼ ἐν ἀσθενείᾳ καὶ ἐν φόβῳ καὶ ἐν τρόμῳ πολλῷ ἐγενόμην πρὸς ὑμᾶς·Read the interlinear

• weaknessἀσθένειαastheneia · weakness: weakG769
• fearφόβοςphobos · fearG5401
• and in muchπολύςpolus polos · muchG4183
• tremblingτρόμοςtromos · tremblingG5156

Cross-references for 1 Corinthians 2:3

• 1 Corinthians 4:10We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are prudent in Christ; we are weak, but you are strong; you are distinguished, but we are without honor.
• Acts 17:1Now when they had traveled through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews.
• Acts 20:18And when they had come to him, he said to them, “You yourselves know, from the first day that I set foot in Asia, how I was with you the whole time,
• 2 Corinthians 4:1Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we received mercy, we do not lose heart,
• 2 Corinthians 6:4but in everything commending ourselves as servants of God, in much endurance, in afflictions, in hardships, in distresses,
• 2 Corinthians 7:5For even when we came into Macedonia our flesh had no rest, but we were afflicted on every side: conflicts without, fears within.
• 2 Corinthians 10:1Now I, Paul, myself urge you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ--I who am meek when face to face with you, but bold toward you when absent!
• 2 Corinthians 11:29Who is weak without my being weak? Who is led into sin without my intense concern?
• 2 Corinthians 12:5On behalf of such a man I will boast; but on my own behalf I will not boast, except in regard to my weaknesses.
• 2 Corinthians 13:4For indeed He was crucified because of weakness, yet He lives because of the power of God. For we also are weak in Him, yet we will live with Him because of the power of God directed toward you.
• Galatians 4:13but you know that it was because of a bodily illness that I 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

• Humility
• Minister, Christian
• Philosophy
• Preaching
• Reasoning
• Wisdom
• Zeal, Religious

In the dictionaries

• Corinthians, First Epistle to the
• Judge
• Lord
• Mystery
• Spiritually
• Testimony
• Thorn in the flesh
• Wisdom
• Corinthians, First Epistle to the
• Paul, the Apostle

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