1 Corinthians 2:1-3

Amplified Bible

Paul’s Reliance upon the Spirit

2 And when I came to you, brothers and sisters, proclaiming to you the ^[a]testimony of God [concerning salvation through Christ], I did not come with superiority of speech or of wisdom [no lofty words of eloquence or of philosophy as a Greek orator might do]; ²for I made the decision to ^[b]know nothing [that is, to forego philosophical or theological discussions regarding inconsequential things and opinions while] among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified [and the meaning of His redemptive, substitutionary death and His resurrection]. ³I came to you in [a state of] weakness and fear and great trembling.

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Footnotes

1 Corinthians 2:1 One early ms reads mystery.
1 Corinthians 2:2 In reality, Paul was a highly-trained student of the Old Testament writings, Jewish law, and of logic and rhetoric; and evidently he was conversant in Roman law as well. When preaching the gospel, however, he focused on the message itself and the power of God, and not on rhetorical techniques of persuasion (see vv 4, 5; cf 1:17).