1 Corinthians 2:3-4

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

In this passage the apostle pursues his design, and reminds the Corinthians how he acted when he first preached the gospel among them. I. As to the matter or subject he tell us (1 Cor. 2:2), He determined to know nothing among them but Jesus Christ and him crucified?to make a show of no other knowledge than this, to preach nothing, to discover the knowledge of nothing, but Jesus Christ, and him crucified. Note, Christ, in his person and offices, is the sum and substance of the gospel, and... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 1 Corinthians 2:1-5

2:1-5 So, brothers, when I came to you, I did not come announcing God's secret to you with any outstanding gifts of rhetoric or wisdom, for it was my deliberate decision to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and him upon his Cross. So I was with you in weakness and in diffidence and in much nervousness. My story and my proclamation were not made with persuasive words of wisdom; it was by the Spirit and by power that they were unanswerably demonstrated to be true, so that your faith... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Corinthians 2:3

And I was with you in weakness ,.... Meaning either the weakness of his bodily presence, the contemptibleness of his voice, and the mean figure he made as a preacher among them, both with respect to the matter and manner of his ministry in the eyes of many; or his lowly and humble deportment among them, not exerting the power and authority Christ had given him as an apostle; but choosing rather to work with his own hands, as he did at Corinth, to minister to his own necessities, and those of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Corinthians 2:4

And my speech, and my preaching ,.... As he determined, so he acted. As the subject matter of his ministry was not any of the liberal arts and sciences, or the philosophy and dry morality of the Gentiles, but salvation by a crucified Christ; so his style, his diction, his language used in preaching, was not with enticing words of man's wisdom ; with technical words, words of art, contrived by human wisdom to captivate the affections; and with bare probable arguments only, a show of... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Corinthians 2:3

I 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 their persons and their voice to... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Corinthians 2:4

And my speech - Ὁ λογος μου , My doctrine; the matter of my preaching. And my preaching - Το κηρυγμα μου , My proclamation, my manner of recommending the grand but simple truths of the Gospel. Was not with enticing words of man's wisdom - Ενπειθοις ανθρωπινης σοφιας λογοις , With persuasive doctrines of human wisdom: in every case I left man out, that God might become the more evident. I used none of the means of which great orators avail themselves in order to become popular,... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Corinthians 2:3

Verse 3 3.And I was with you in weakness He explains at greater length what he had previously touched upon — that he had nothing shining or excellent in him in the eyes of men, to raise him to distinction. He concedes, however, to his adversaries what they desired in such a way as to make those very things which, in their opinion, tended to detract from the credit of his ministry, redound to its highest commendation. If he appeared less worthy of esteem from his being so mean and abject... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Corinthians 2:4

Verse 4 4.And my preaching was not in the persuasive words. By the persuasive words of man’s wisdom he means that exquisite oratory which aims and strives rather by artifice than by truth, and also an appearance of refinement, that allures the minds of men. It is not without good reason, too, that he ascribes persuasiveness ( τό πιθάνον) (109) to human wisdom. For the word of the Lord constrains us by its majesty, as if by a violent impulse, to yield obedience to it. Human wisdom, on the other... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 2:1-5

St. Paul's own method. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 2:1-5

A faithful picture of a true gospel preacher. "And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech," etc. These words may be regarded as a faithful picture of a true gospel preacher. I. The grand subject of his ministry is the CRUCIFIED CHRIST . 1. Christ crucified, because he is the highest revelation of God's love for man. 2. Christ crucified, because he is the most thrilling demonstration of the wickedness of humanity. 3. Christ crucified,... read more

Group of Brands