1 Corinthians 2:1

BSB · Public Domain (CC0)

“When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God.”

What this verse means

A short, plain-language explanation of 1 Corinthians 2:1 goes here — the kind of answer a reader (or an AI assistant) can quote in one breath. Original meaning coming soon.

Compare translations
BSBPD

“When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God.”

Berean Standard Bible · Public Domain (CC0)
KJVPD

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

King James Version · Public Domain
ASVPD

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

American Standard Version · Public Domain
YLTPD

“And I, having come unto you, brethren, came--not in superiority of discourse or wisdom--declaring to you the testimony of God,”

Young's Literal Translation · Public Domain
Open the full comparison
Cross references

Other passages that echo 1 Corinthians 2:1 — 21 related verses from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  1. Exodus 4:10“Please, Lord,” Moses replied, “I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since You have spoken to Your servant, for I am slow of speech and tongue.”
  2. Isaiah 8:20To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, they have no light of dawn.
  3. Jeremiah 1:6“Ah, Lord GOD,” I said, “I surely do not know how to speak, for I am only a child!”
  4. Acts 18:1After this, Paul left Athens and went to Corinth.
  5. Acts 20:21testifying to Jews and Greeks alike about repentance to God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.
  6. Acts 22:18and saw the Lord saying to me, ‘Hurry! Leave Jerusalem quickly, because the people here will not accept your testimony about Me.’
  7. Romans 16:18For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive.
  8. 1 Corinthians 1:6because our testimony about Christ was confirmed in you.
  9. 1 Corinthians 1:17For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with words of wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.
  10. 1 Corinthians 2:4My message and my preaching were not with persuasive words of wisdom, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power,
  11. 1 Corinthians 2:13And this is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom, but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words.
  12. 2 Corinthians 10:10For some say, “His letters are weighty and forceful, but his physical presence is unimpressive, and his speaking is of no account.”
  13. 2 Corinthians 11:6Although I am not a polished speaker, I am certainly not lacking in knowledge. We have made this clear to you in every way possible.
  14. 2 Thessalonians 1:10on the day He comes to be glorified in His saints and regarded with wonder by all who have believed, including you who have believed our testimony.
  15. 1 Timothy 1:11that agrees with the glorious gospel of the blessed God, with which I have been entrusted.
  16. 2 Timothy 1:8So do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, or of me, His prisoner. Instead, join me in suffering for the gospel by the power of God.
  17. 1 John 4:14And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent His Son to be the Savior of the world.
  18. 1 John 5:11And this is that testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.
  19. Revelation 1:2who testifies to everything he saw. This is the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ.
  20. Revelation 1:9I, John, your brother and partner in the tribulation and kingdom and perseverance that are in Jesus, was on the island of Patmos because of the word of God and my testimony about Jesus.
  21. Revelation 19:10So I fell at his feet to worship him. But he told me, “Do not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers who rely on the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”

Cross-reference data: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (public domain) via OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0).

Keep exploring