3 I came to you in weakness with great fear and trembling.
3 And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.
3 And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling,
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 -
3 I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling.
3 I came to you in weakness-timid and trembling.
9 We are glad whenever we are weak but you are strong; and our prayer is that you may be fully restored.
9 For we are glad, when we are weak, and ye are strong: and this also we wish, even your perfection.
9 For we are glad when we are weak and you are strong. Your restoration is what we pray for.
9 We couldn't possibly do otherwise. We don't just put up with our limitations; we celebrate them, and then go on to celebrate every strength, every triumph of the truth in you. We pray hard that it will all come together in your lives.
9 For we are glad when we are weak and you are strong. And this also we pray, that you may be made complete.
9 We are glad to seem weak if it helps show that you are actually strong. We pray that you will become mature.
(Read 2 Corinthians 13:7-10)
The most desirable thing we can ask of God, for ourselves and our friends, is to be kept from sin, that we and they may not do evil. We have far more need to pray that we may not do evil, than that we may not suffer evil. The apostle not only desired that they might be kept from sin, but also that they might grow in grace, and increase in holiness. We are earnestly to pray to God for those we caution, that they may cease to do evil, and learn to do well; and we should be glad for others to be strong in the grace of Christ, though it may be the means of showing our own weakness. let us also pray that we may be enabled to make a proper use of all our talents.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on 1 Corinthians 2:3
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.