Proclaiming Christ Crucified

21 And so it was with me, brothers and sisters. When I came to you, I did not come with eloquence or human wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God.[1] 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 with great fear and trembling. 4 My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, 5 so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God's power.

Other Translations of 1 Corinthians 2:1-5

King James Version

Proclaiming Christ Crucified

21 And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. 2 For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. 3 And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. 4 And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing enticing: or, persuasible words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: 5 That your faith should not stand stand: Gr. be in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.

English Standard Version

Proclaiming Christ Crucified

21 And I, when I came to you, brothers,Or brothers and sisters did not come proclaiming to you the testimonySome manuscripts mystery (or secret) of God with lofty speech or wisdom. 2 For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. 3 And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, 4 and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5 that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.

The Message

Proclaiming Christ Crucified

21 You'll remember, friends, that when I first came to you to let you in on God's master stroke, I didn't try to impress you with polished speeches and the latest philosophy. 2 I deliberately kept it plain and simple: first Jesus and who he is; then Jesus and what he did - Jesus crucified. 3 I was unsure of how to go about this, and felt totally inadequate - I was scared to death, if you want the truth of it - 4 and so nothing I said could have impressed you or anyone else. But the Message came through anyway. God's Spirit and God's power did it, 5 which made it clear that your life of faith is a response to God's power, not to some fancy mental or emotional footwork by me or anyone else.

New King James Version

Proclaiming Christ Crucified

21 And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God. 2 For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. 3 I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. 4 And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5 that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.

New Living Translation

Proclaiming Christ Crucified

21 When I first came to you, dear brothers and sisters, I didn't use lofty words and impressive wisdom to tell you God's secret plan. 2 For I decided that while I was with you I would forget everything except Jesus Christ, the one who was crucified. 3 I came to you in weakness-timid and trembling. 4 And my message and my preaching were very plain. Rather than using clever and persuasive speeches, I relied only on the power of the Holy Spirit. 5 I did this so you would trust not in human wisdom but in the power of God.

Matthew Henry's Commentary on 1 Corinthians 2:1-5

Commentary on 1 Corinthians 2:1-5

(Read 1 Corinthians 2:1-5)

Christ, in his person, and offices, and sufferings, is the sum and substance of the gospel, and ought to be the great subject of a gospel minister's preaching, but not so as to leave out other parts of God's revealed truth and will. Paul preached the whole counsel of God. Few know the fear and trembling of faithful ministers, from a deep sense of their own weakness They know how insufficient they are, and are fearful for themselves. When nothing but Christ crucified is plainly preached, the success must be entirely from Divine power accompanying the word, and thus men are brought to believe, to the salvation of their souls.