1 Corinthians 2:3 Meaning and Explanation
“And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →Paul admits that he came to Corinth not in confident strength but in weakness, fear, and trembling.
What Does 1 Corinthians 2:3 Mean?
Paul keeps describing his first days among the Corinthians, and here he lays bare his own frailty. He was with them in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling, an honest confession from a man the church might have imagined as fearless.
It is striking that the great apostle does not hide his trembling. He lets the Corinthians see that the power at work in his ministry was never his own. When the messenger is weak, it becomes plain that the strength belongs to God. This is a comfort to anyone who feels unequal to the task set before them. God does not wait for us to feel strong; he works through trembling hands and fearful hearts, so that the glory is unmistakably his.
1 Corinthians 2:3 in the Original Language
astheneia (ἀσθένεια), 'weakness' -- lack of strength, whether of body or spirit, the very condition through which God's power is made evident.
Frequently Asked Questions About 1 Corinthians 2:3
What does 1 Corinthians 2:3 mean?
Paul admits that he came to Corinth not in confident strength but in weakness, fear, and trembling.