1 Corinthians 2 · Verse 3

1 Corinthians 2:3

And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.
1 Corinthians 2:3, King James Version

1 Corinthians 2:3 in other translations

BSBI came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling.
WEBI was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling.
ASVAnd I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.
YLTand I, in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling, was with you;
DARBYAnd I was with you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling;
BBEAnd I was with you without strength, in fear and in doubt.
WebsterAnd I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.

What does 1 Corinthians 2:3 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
3. I--the preacher: as 1Co 2:2 describes the subject, "Christ crucified," and 1Co 2:4 the mode of preaching: "my speech ... not with enticing words," "but in demonstration of the Spirit." weakness--personal and bodily (2Co 10:10; 12:7, 9; Ga 4:13). trembling--(compare Php 2:12). Not personal fear, but a trembling anxiety to perform a duty; anxious conscientiousness, as proved by the contrast to "eye service" (Ep 6:5) [Conybeare and Howson].

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 3. And I was with you. Paul continued there at least a year and six months, Acts 18:2

In weakness. In conscious feebleness; diffident of my own powers, and not trusting to my own strength.

And in fear, and in much trembling. Paul was sensible that he had many enemies to encounter, Acts 18:6; and he was sensible of his own natural disadvantages as a public speaker, 2Cor 10:10. He knew, too, how much the Greeks valued a manly and elegant species of oratory; and he, therefore, delivered his message with deep and anxious solicitude as to the success. It was at this time, and in view of these circumstances, that the Lord spoke to him by night in a vision, and said, "Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace; for I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city," Acts 18:9,10. If Paul was conscious of weakness, well may other ministers be; and if Paul sometimes trembled in deep solicitude about the result of his message, well may other ministers tremble also. It was in such circumstances, and with such feelings, that the Lord met him to encourage him. And it is when other ministers feel thus, that the promises of the gospel are inestimably precious. We may add, that it is then, and then only, that they are successful. Notwithstanding all Paul's fears, he was successful there. And it is commonly, perhaps always, when ministers go to their work conscious of their own weakness; burdened with the weight of their message; diffident of their own powers; and deeply solicitous about the result of their labours, that God sends down his Spirit, and converts sinners to God. The most successful ministers have been men who have evinced most of this feeling; and most of the revivals of religion have commenced, and continued, just as ministers have preached, conscious of their own feebleness, distrusting their own powers, and looking to God for aid and strength.

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 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 recommend them. Louis XIV. styled Peter du Bosc le plus beau parleur de son royaume, the finest speaker in his kingdom; and among his own people he was styled l'orateur parfait, the perfect orator. Look at the works of this French protestant divine, and you find it difficult to subscribe to the above sayings. The difficulty is solved by the information that the person of M. du Bosc was noble and princely, and his voice full, harmonious, and majestic. Paul had none of these advantages, and yet idolatry and superstition fell before him. Thus God was seen in the work, and the man was forgotten. In fear, and in much trembling - This was often the state of his mind; dreading lest he should at any time be unfaithful, and so grieve the Spirit of God; or that, after having preached to others, himself should be a castaway. See 1Cor 9:27. An eminent divine has said that it requires three things to make a good preacher; study, temptation, and prayer. The latter, no man that lives near to God can neglect; the former, no man who endeavors rightly to divide the word of truth will neglect; and with the second every man will be more or less exercised whose whole aim is to save souls. Those of a different cast the devil permits to pass quietly on in their own indolent and prayerless way.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 1 Corinthians 2:1-5

Christ, in his person, and offices, and sufferings, is the sum and substance of the gospel, and ought to be the great subject of a gospel minister's preaching, but not so as to leave out other parts of God's revealed truth and will. Paul preached the whole counsel of God. Few know the fear and trembling of faithful ministers, from a deep sense of their own weakness They know how insufficient they are, and are…

Read the full comment on 1 Corinthians 2:1-5 →

1 Corinthians 2:3 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

κἀγὼkagōAnd I myselfG1473
ἐνeninG1722
ἀσθενείᾳastheneiaweaknessG769
καὶkaiandG2532
ἐνeninG1722
φόβῳphobōfearG5401
καὶkaiandG2532
ἐνeninG1722
τρόμῳtromōtremblingG5156
πολλῷpollōmuchG4183
ἐγενόμηνegenomēnwasG1096
πρὸςproswithG4314
ὑμᾶς·humasyou;G4771

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for 1 Corinthians 2:3

  • 2 Corinthians 13:4

    For though he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him by the power of God toward you.

  • 1 Corinthians 4:10-13

    We are fools for Christ’s sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye are honourable, but we are despised. Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwellingplace; And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it: Being defamed, we intreat: we are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things unto this day.

  • 2 Corinthians 12:5-10

    Of such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities. For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the truth: but now I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth me to be, or that he heareth of me. And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. …

  • 2 Corinthians 13:9

    For we are glad, when we are weak, and ye are strong: and this also we wish, even your perfection.

  • Galatians 4:13-14

    Ye know how through infirmity of the flesh I preached the gospel unto you at the first. And my temptation which was in my flesh ye despised not, nor rejected; but received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus.

  • 2 Corinthians 4:1

    Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not;

  • 2 Corinthians 4:7-12

    But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. …

  • 2 Corinthians 10:10

    For his letters, say they, are weighty and powerful; but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible.

  • 2 Corinthians 4:16

    For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.

  • 2 Corinthians 6:4

    But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,

  • 2 Corinthians 11:29-30

    Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not? If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities.

  • Acts 17:6-12

    And when they found them not, they drew Jason and certain brethren unto the rulers of the city, crying, These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also; Whom Jason hath received: and these all do contrary to the decrees of Cesar, saying that there is another king, one Jesus. And they troubled the people and the rulers of the city, when they heard these things. And when they had taken security of Jason, and of the other, they let them go. …

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
4:10-13; Ac 17:1,6-12; 20:18,19; 2Co 4:1,7-12,16; 6:4; 7:5; 10:1,10
2Co 11:29,30; 12:5-10; 13:4; Ga 4:13,14

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • 1 Corinthians 2:2

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

  • 1 Corinthians 2:3

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

  • 1 Corinthians 2:4

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

Read all of 1 Corinthians 2

1 Corinthians 2:3 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y estuve yo con vosotros con flaqueza, y mucho temor y temblor;
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et moi-même j’ai été parmi vous dans la faiblesse, et dans la crainte, et dans un grand tremblement;
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und ich war bei euch in Schwachheit und in Furcht und in vielem Zittern;
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Et ego in infirmitate, et timore, et tremore multo fui apud vos: