Parallel Verses
An Understandable Version
And when I came to you, brothers, it was not with eloquent words or [superior] wisdom that I proclaimed to you the testimony [or, mystery] about God.
New American Standard Bible
And when I came to you, brethren, I
King James Version
And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God.
Holman Bible
When I came to you, brothers, announcing the testimony
International Standard Version
When I came to you, brothers, I didn't come and tell you about God's secret with rhetorical language or wisdom.
A Conservative Version
And I, brothers, when I came to you, came not in eminence of speech or of wisdom proclaiming the testimony of God to you.
American Standard Version
And I, brethren, when I came unto you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God.
Amplified
And when I came to you, brothers and sisters, proclaiming to you the
Anderson New Testament
And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellence of speech or of wisdom, declaring to you the testimony of God.
Bible in Basic English
And when I came to you, my brothers, I did not come with wise words of knowledge, putting before you the secret of God.
Common New Testament
When I came to you, brethren, I did not come with superiority of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God.
Daniel Mace New Testament
As for me, my brethren, when I appear'd among you, it was not to represent to you the divine mystery in sublime language, and with human literature.
Darby Translation
And I, when I came to you, brethren, came not in excellency of word, or wisdom, announcing to you the testimony of God.
Godbey New Testament
And I, brethren, having come unto you, came not in the excellency of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming unto you the testimony of God.
Goodspeed New Testament
So when I came to you, brothers, I did not come and tell you the secret purpose of God in superior, philosophical language,
John Wesley New Testament
And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring to you the testimony of God.
Julia Smith Translation
And I having come to you, brethren, came not with eminence of word or of wisdom, announcing to you the testimony of God.
King James 2000
And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God.
Lexham Expanded Bible
And I, [when I] came to you, brothers, did not come with superiority of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God.
Modern King James verseion
And I, brothers, when I came to you, did not come with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring to you the testimony of God.
Modern Spelling Tyndale-Coverdale
And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not in gloriousness of words or of wisdom, showing unto you the testimony of God.
Moffatt New Testament
Thus when I came to you, my brothers, I did not come to proclaim to you God's secret purpose with any elaborate words or wisdom.
Montgomery New Testament
And when I came to you, brothers, I came not to proclaim God's great secret purpose in fine language of philosophy;
NET Bible
When I came to you, brothers and sisters, I did not come with superior eloquence or wisdom as I proclaimed the testimony of God.
New Heart English Bible
When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with superiority of speech or wisdom, proclaiming to you the mystery of God.
Noyes New Testament
And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech, or of wisdom, declaring to you the testimony of God.
Sawyer New Testament
And when I came to you, brothers, I came not with excellency of speech, or wisdom, declaring to you the mystery of God.
The Emphasized Bible
I, therefore, brethren, when I came unto you, came, not with excellency of discourse or wisdom, declaring unto you the mystery of God;
Thomas Haweis New Testament
AND I, when I came to you, brethren, came not with superior excellence of discourse or wisdom, preaching unto you the gospel of God.
Twentieth Century New Testament
For my own part, Brothers, when I came to you, it was with no display of eloquence or philosophy that I came to tell the hidden purpose of God;
Webster
And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellence of speech, or of wisdom, declaring to you the testimony of God.
Weymouth New Testament
And as for myself, brethren, when I came to you, it was not with surpassing power of eloquence or earthly wisdom that I came, announcing to you that which God had commanded me to bear witness to.
Williams New Testament
Now when I came to you, brothers, I did not come and tell you God's uncovered secret in rhetorical language or human philosophy,
World English Bible
When I came to you, brothers, I didn't come with excellence of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God.
Worrell New Testament
And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God;
Worsley New Testament
And I, when I came among you, brethren, came not with excellency of language, or of human wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God:
Youngs Literal Translation
And I, having come unto you, brethren, came -- not in superiority of discourse or wisdom -- declaring to you the testimony of God,
Themes
Ministers » Should preach » Not with enticing words of man's wisdom
Philosophy » Employment of, was not paul's method of preaching the gospel
Interlinear
Devotionals
Devotionals about 1 Corinthians 2:1
Devotionals containing 1 Corinthians 2:1
References
Hastings
Word Count of 37 Translations in 1 Corinthians 2:1
Prayers for 1 Corinthians 2:1
Verse Info
Context Readings
Paul's Approach To Ministry In Corinth
1 And when I came to you, brothers, it was not with eloquent words or [superior] wisdom that I proclaimed to you the testimony [or, mystery] about God. 2 For I have decided not to know anything [while] among you, except Jesus Christ and His being crucified.
Cross References
1 Corinthians 1:17
For Christ did not send me to immerse people, but to preach the good news. [Note: Christ specifically commissioned Paul to preach; most of the immersing was done by his attendants]. It was not to be done with words of [human] wisdom, so that the [message of the] cross of Christ would not have its power taken away.
1 Corinthians 2:4
And I did not use persuasive words of [human] wisdom in my message and preaching, but they were [accompanied by] a demonstration of the Holy Spirit and power [from God]. [Note: This "demonstration" could have included the evidence of miraculous spiritual gifts which Paul utilized while there in Corinth. See 14:18].
1 Corinthians 2:13
These also are the things we [apostles] speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but [in words] taught by the Holy Spirit. We use [or, combine] Spirit-taught words to express [or, with] Spirit-given truth.
Acts 18:1-4
After this happened Paul left Athens and went to Corinth [i.e., a principal city of Greece].
Acts 20:21
[You know how] I testified to both Jews and Greeks [i.e., Gentiles], that they must repent [i.e., change their attitudes and behavior] toward God, and have faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.
Acts 22:18
And I saw [and heard] the Lord saying to me, 'Hurry up, get out of Jerusalem quickly, because the people [here] will reject your testimony about me.'
Romans 16:18
For such men are not serving our Lord Christ but their own [unspiritual] appetites. They are deceiving the minds of innocent people by their smooth talk and flattering words.
1 Corinthians 1:6
The message about Christ has become firmly established there among you [i.e., by such gifts],
2 Corinthians 10:10
For some people are saying, "Paul's letters are heavy and severe, but in person he is [physically?] weak and his speaking ability is unimpressive."
2 Corinthians 11:6
But even though I am an unpolished speaker, I am not lacking in knowledge. We have made this clear to you in every way.
2 Thessalonians 1:10
On that day Jesus will return to be honored by His saints [i.e., God's holy people] and to be marveled at [i.e., in reverence] by all those who had believed [in Him]. [This will happen] because you have believed our testimony to you [about Christ].
1 Timothy 1:11
found in the glorious Gospel of the blessed God, which was entrusted to me.
2 Timothy 1:8
So, do not be ashamed to testify for our Lord, or ashamed of [being associated with] me, His prisoner, but [be willing to] suffer hardship with me for the sake of the Gospel, relying on God's power [to sustain you].
1 John 4:14
And we [apostles] have seen and are [reliable] witnesses that the Father has sent the Son to be the Savior of the world [See 1:2; 2:2].
1 John 5:11-13
And this is the testimony [of God]: He gave to us [the hope of] never ending life, and this life is [available through fellowship] in His Son.
Revelation 1:2
[So], John testified concerning everything he saw of God's message and Jesus Christ's testimony [of it].
Revelation 1:9
I [am] John, your brother who participates with you in the suffering and kingdom and endurance [which we experience] in [fellowship with] Jesus. I was on the island called Patmos for [preaching] God's message and for testifying about Jesus. [Note: Patmos was located in the Aegean Sea between present-day Greece and Turkey].
Revelation 19:10
Then I fell down in front of him to worship him. But he said to me, "Do not do that; I am [only] a fellow-servant with you and with your brothers who hold onto the testimony about Jesus. You should worship God. For the testimony about Jesus is the spirit [i.e., the purpose, or source] of prophecy."