1 Corinthians 2:3

3 So when I came to you, I was weak and trembled all over with fear, ¹

1 Corinthians 2:3 Meaning and 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 others; or the many persecutions which he endured there for the sake of preaching a crucified Christ; and which he sometimes calls "infirmities"; see ( 2 Corinthians 12:9 2 Corinthians 12:10 ) wherefore it is added,

and in fear, and in much trembling:
not only on account of the greatness and awfulness of the work in which he was engaged, and lest the souls he ministered unto should be drawn aside from the truth, and into a sinful compliance; but because of the violence of men against him, threatening his life, and lying in wait for it: hence, the Lord, to encourage him, spake in a vision to him, and bid him not be afraid, but boldly preach his Gospel, and not be silent; assuring him of his presence, and that no man should set on him to hurt him, for he had many chosen vessels there to call by his grace through his ministry, ( Acts 18:9 Acts 18:10 ) which no doubt greatly served to remove the fears and tremor that attended him.

1 Corinthians 2:3 In-Context

1 When I came to you, my friends, to preach God's secret truth, I did not use big words and great learning.

2 For while I was with you, I made up my mind to forget everything except Jesus Christ and especially his death on the cross.

3 So when I came to you, I was weak and trembled all over with fear,

4 and my teaching and message were not delivered with skillful words of human wisdom, but with convincing proof of the power of God's Spirit.

5 Your faith, then, does not rest on human wisdom but on God's power.

Cross References

• 1. 2.3Acts 18.9.