1 Corinthians 2

Paul's Approach To Ministry In Corinth 

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                                    1 And when I came to you, brethren, I (A)did not come with superiority of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you (B)the (a)testimony of God.                                

                                    1 And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God.                                

                                    1 When I came to you, brothers, announcing the testimony(a) of God to you, I did not come with brilliance(A) of speech(B) or wisdom.                                 

                                    1 When I came to you, brothers, I didn't come and tell you about God's secret with rhetorical language or wisdom.                                 

                                    1 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];                                 
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                                    2 For I determined to know nothing among you except (C)Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.                                

                                    2 For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.                                

                                    2 For I didn’t think it was a good idea to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.(C)                                 

                                    2 For while I was with you I resolved to know nothing except Jesus the Messiah, and him crucified.                                 

                                    2 for 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].                                 
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                                    3 I was with you in (D)weakness and in (E)fear and in much trembling,                                

                                    3 And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.                                

                                    3 I came to you in weakness,(D) in fear,(E) and in much trembling.(F)                                 

                                    3 It was in weakness, fear, and great trembling that I came to you.                                 

                                    3 I came to you in [a state of] weakness and fear and great trembling.                                 
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                                    4 and my (b)message and my preaching were (F)not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of (G)the Spirit and of power,                                

                                    4 And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:                                

                                    4 My speech(G) and my proclamation were not with persuasive(H) words of wisdom(b) but with a powerful demonstration by the Spirit,                                 

                                    4 My message and my preaching were not accompanied by clever, wise words, but by a display of the Spirit's power,                                 

                                    4 And my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom [using clever rhetoric], but [they were delivered] in demonstration of the [Holy] Spirit [operating through me] and of [His] power [stirring the minds of the listeners and persuading them],                                 
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                                    5 so that your faith would not (c)rest on the wisdom of men, but on (H)the power of God.                                

                                    5 That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.                                

                                    5 so that your faith might not be based on men’s wisdom but on God’s power.(I)                                 

                                    5 so that your faith would not be based on human wisdom but on God's power.                                

                                    5 so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom and rhetoric of men, but on the power of God.                                
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                                    6 Yet we do speak wisdom among those who are (I)mature; a wisdom, however, not of (J)this age nor of the rulers of (K)this age, who are (L)passing away;                                

                                    6 Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought:                                

                                    6 However, we do speak a wisdom among the mature,(J) but not a wisdom of this age, or of the rulers(K) of this age, who are coming to nothing.(L)                                 

                                    6 However, when we are among mature people, we do speak a message of wisdom, but not the wisdom of this world or of the rulers of this world, who are passing off the scene.                                 

                                    6 Yet we do speak wisdom among those spiritually mature [believers who have teachable hearts and a greater understanding]; but [it is a higher] wisdom not [the wisdom] of this present age nor of the rulers and leaders of this age, who are passing away;                                 
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                                    7 but we speak God’s wisdom in a (M)mystery, the hidden wisdom which God (N)predestined before the (O)ages to our glory;                                

                                    7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:                                

                                    7 On the contrary, we speak God’s hidden wisdom in a mystery, a wisdom God predestined(M) before the ages for our glory.(N)                                 

                                    7 Instead, we speak about God's wisdom in a hidden secret, which God destined before the world began for our glory.                                 

                                    7 but we speak God’s wisdom in a mystery, the wisdom once hidden [from man, but now revealed to us by God, that wisdom] which God predestined before the ages to our glory [to lift us into the glory of His presence].                                 
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                                    8 the wisdom (P)which none of the rulers of (Q)this age has understood; for if they had understood it they would not have crucified (R)the Lord of glory;                                

                                    8 Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.                                

                                    8 None of the rulers of this age knew this wisdom, for if they had known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.(O)                                 

                                    8 None of the rulers of this world understood it, because if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.                                 

                                    8 None of the rulers of this age recognized and understood this wisdom; for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory;                                 
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                                    9 but just as it is written,“(S)Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard,And which have not entered the heart of man,All that God has prepared for those who love Him.”                                

                                    9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.                                

                                    9 But as it is written:What eye did not see and ear did not hear,and what never entered the human mind—God prepared this for those who love Him.(P)(c)                                 

                                    9 But as it is written, "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined the things that God has prepared for those who love him."                                

                                    9 but just as it is written [in Scripture],“Things which the eye has not seen and the ear has not heard,And which have not entered the heart of man,All that God has prepared for those who love Him [who hold Him in affectionate reverence, who obey Him, and who gratefully recognize the benefits that He has bestowed].”(A)
                                
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                                    10 (d)(T)For to us God revealed them (U)through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the (V)depths of God.                                

                                    10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.                                

                                    10 Now God has revealed these things to us by the Spirit, for the Spirit searches everything,(Q) even the depths of God.(R)                                 

                                    10 But God has revealed those things to us by his Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the deep things of God.                                

                                    10 For God has unveiled them and revealed them to us through the [Holy] Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things [diligently], even [sounding and measuring] the [profound] depths of God [the divine counsels and things far beyond human understanding].                                 
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                                    11 For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the (W)spirit of the man which is in him? Even so the thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God.                                

                                    11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.                                

                                    11 For who among men knows the thoughts(d) of a man except the spirit(S) of the man that is in him? In the same way, no one knows(T) the thoughts(e) of God except the Spirit of God.                                 

                                    11 Is there anyone who can understand his own thoughts except his own inner spirit? In the same way, no one can know the thoughts of God except God's Spirit.                                 

                                    11 For what person knows the thoughts and motives of a man except the man’s spirit within him? So also no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.                                 
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                                    12 Now we (X)have received, not the spirit of (Y)the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God,                                

                                    12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.                                

                                    12 Now we have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who comes from God, so that we may understand what has been freely given to us by God.                                 

                                    12 Now, we have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who comes from God, so that we can understand the things that were freely given to us by God.                                 

                                    12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the [Holy] Spirit who is from God, so that we may know and understand the [wonderful] things freely given to us by God.                                 
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                                    13 which things we also speak, (Z)not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, (e)combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words.                                

                                    13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.                                

                                    13 We also speak these things, not in words(U) taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual things to spiritual people.(f)                                 

                                    13 We don't speak about these things with words taught us by human wisdom, but with words taught by the Spirit, as we explain spiritual things to spiritual people.                                 

                                    13 We also speak of these things, not in words taught or supplied by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining and interpreting spiritual thoughts with spiritual words [for those being guided by the Holy Spirit].                                
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                                    14 But (f)a (AA)natural man (AB)does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are (AC)foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually (g)appraised.                                

                                    14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.                                

                                    14 But the unbeliever(g) does not welcome what comes from God’s Spirit, because it is foolishness to him; he is not able to understand it since it is evaluated(h) spiritually.                                 

                                    14 A person who isn't spiritual doesn't accept the things of God's Spirit, for they are nonsense to him. He can't understand them because they are spiritually evaluated.                                 

                                    14 But the natural [unbelieving] man does not accept the things [the teachings and revelations] of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness [absurd and illogical] to him; and he is incapable of understanding them, because they are spiritually discerned and appreciated, [and he is unqualified to judge spiritual matters].                                 
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                                    15 But he who is (AD)spiritual appraises all things, yet he himself is appraised by no one.                                

                                    15 But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.                                

                                    15 The spiritual person, however, can evaluate(i) everything, yet he himself cannot be evaluated(j) by anyone.                                 

                                    15 The spiritual person evaluates everything but is subject to no one else's evaluation.                                 

                                    15 But the spiritual man [the spiritually mature Christian] judges all things [questions, examines and applies what the Holy Spirit reveals], yet is himself judged by no one [the unbeliever cannot judge and understand the believer’s spiritual nature].                                 
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                                    16 For (AE)who has known the mind of the Lord, that he will instruct Him? But (AF)we have the mind of Christ.                                

                                    16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.                                

                                    16 Forwho has known the Lord’s mind,that he may instruct Him?(V)(k)But we have the mind of Christ.(W)                                

                                    16 For "Who has known the mind of the Lord so that he can advise him?" However, we have the mind of the Messiah.                                

                                    16 For who has known the mind and purposes of the Lord, so as to instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ [to be guided by His thoughts and purposes].(B)