1 Corinthians 2 2

1 Corinthians 2:2 kjv

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

1 Corinthians 2:2 nkjv

For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.

1 Corinthians 2:2 niv

For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.

1 Corinthians 2:2 esv

For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.

1 Corinthians 2:2 nlt

For I decided that while I was with you I would forget everything except Jesus Christ, the one who was crucified.

1 Corinthians 2 verses

1 Corinthians 2 2 Meaning

The Apostle Paul states his firm and deliberate commitment, during his ministry in Corinth, to focus solely on communicating the truth about Jesus Christ, with particular emphasis on His crucifixion. This was not a limitation of his knowledge, but a strategic decision to avoid relying on human eloquence or philosophical wisdom, ensuring that the transformative power experienced by the Corinthians would be attributed solely to God.

1 Corinthians 2 2 Context

1 Corinthians chapters 1 and 2 lay the foundational argument for Paul's ministry strategy and the nature of God's wisdom, contrasting it sharply with human wisdom. The church in Corinth was rife with divisions, marked by pride in human eloquence, intellectual prowess, and adherence to specific leaders. They valued sophisticated rhetoric and philosophical discourse, typical of their Greek culture. Paul begins by explaining that the gospel message, specifically "Christ crucified," appears as "foolishness" to those who rely on worldly wisdom but is the "power of God and the wisdom of God" for believers (1 Cor 1:18, 24). Verse 2:2, therefore, directly explains Paul's intentional decision to present the gospel without the alluring methods or intellectual debates valued by the Corinthians. This decision underscored that faith should rest on the demonstrable power of God's Spirit, not on the persuasive skills or intellectual achievements of a human preacher.

1 Corinthians 2 2 Word analysis

• For I decided: The Greek word is ἔκρινα (ekrina), a strong aorist active indicative verb, meaning "I judged," "I resolved," or "I made up my mind." This emphasizes a deliberate, conscious, and firm decision on Paul's part. It implies prior consideration and a definitive resolution, not an accidental or uninformed choice. It highlights his intentionality in shaping his evangelistic approach in Corinth.
• to know nothing: The phrase in Greek is οὐδέν εἰδέναι (ouden eidenai). This does not imply Paul was ignorant or advocating anti-intellectualism generally. Rather, it signifies a self-imposed limitation on what he would highlight or emphasize in his public teaching and preaching in that context. It's a strategic exclusion of distracting or potentially competing forms of knowledge and discourse (like Greek philosophy or persuasive rhetoric) to keep the focus undiluted.
• among you: The Greek phrase is ἐν ὑμῖν (en hymin), meaning "in your midst" or "in your context." This specificity is crucial. Paul tailored his approach to the unique cultural and intellectual environment of Corinth, which greatly valued worldly wisdom, rhetoric, and sophisticated argumentation. His decision was a polemic against the Corinthians' pride in such things.
• except Jesus Christ: This phrase denotes the exclusive focus of Paul's mission. "Jesus" refers to the historical man, Yeshua, and "Christ" (Χριστός, Christos) refers to His office as the Anointed One, the Messiah. He is the singular object of saving faith, and the embodiment of God's redemptive plan. Paul preached Him, His identity, His life, and His significance as Lord and Savior.
• and him crucified: The Greek is καὶ τοῦτον ἐσταυρωμένον (kai touton estaurōmenon). This is not merely an afterthought but a critical, central qualifier. It means "and this one (specifically) crucified." The perfect participle "crucified" (ἐσταυρωμένον) indicates a past action with abiding results. The cross, with its scandal and apparent foolishness, was the very mechanism of salvation. For Jews, a crucified Messiah was a stumbling block (Dt 21:23, Gal 3:13); for Greeks, it was utter folly for God to suffer such a death. Paul highlights this specific, offensive aspect because it reveals God's power in weakness and radically subverts human notions of strength and wisdom.

Words-Group Analysis:

• "I decided to know nothing among you except...": This structure emphasizes Paul's intentional and singular focus. It implies a conscious exclusion of other subjects or methods that might otherwise be valid but, in the context of Corinth's intellectual pride, would have detracted from the core message of the gospel. This strategic narrowing was a testament to his commitment to divine rather than human wisdom, challenging the Corinthians' emphasis on eloquence and intellectual superiority. It was an act of humility, putting God's message above personal prestige or rhetorical flair.
• "Jesus Christ and him crucified": This phrase encapsulates the very essence of Paul's gospel. "Jesus Christ" signifies His dual nature (human and divine) and His messianic office, while "and Him crucified" pinpoints the core of His redemptive work—the atoning death on the cross. This precise phrase was both the "stumbling block" to Jews (who expected a conquering king, not a suffering servant) and "folly" to Gentiles (who despised the concept of a suffering deity). Paul insisted on this specific aspect precisely because it was perceived as weak and foolish by human standards, thus showcasing God's extraordinary power and wisdom that operate counter to worldly expectations (1 Cor 1:25). It served as the central revelation of God's wisdom and power, directly addressing sin, judgment, and redemption.

1 Corinthians 2 2 Bonus section

Paul's emphasis on "Christ crucified" was a stark contrast to many contemporary mystery religions and philosophical schools that offered hidden knowledge or complex paths to enlightenment. The message of the cross was not esoteric, but a publicly performed execution, seemingly signifying shame and defeat. This makes Paul's resolute choice even more counter-cultural and audacious, asserting that God's power operates precisely through what the world despises and considers foolish. His refusal to conform to prevailing oratorical norms, even when capable, speaks to a deep spiritual conviction that God’s saving power requires no embellishment from human intellect or persuasive artifice. This decision was part of Paul's larger theological commitment to God's "upside-down" kingdom values, where weakness is strength, and the humble are exalted.

1 Corinthians 2 2 Commentary

Paul’s statement in 1 Corinthians 2:2 reveals a radical dedication to the gospel’s core. It was not a renunciation of knowledge itself, for Paul was highly educated (Acts 22:3) and frequently engaged in intellectual debate (Acts 17). Rather, it was a conscious decision to set aside his own formidable rhetorical skills and intellectual prowess, which were highly valued in Greco-Roman culture, and specifically in Corinth. His purpose was to ensure that the Corinthians' faith would not be built on the transient, impressive, yet ultimately powerless foundation of human wisdom or eloquent speech, but on the enduring and life-transforming power of God manifested in the simple, scandalous message of Christ's crucifixion (1 Cor 2:4-5). The cross was not merely an event, but the pivotal act in cosmic history where God's ultimate wisdom and power were revealed, confounding the wise and saving the humble. This intentional narrowing of his preaching content ensured that all glory for conversion and spiritual growth would go to God, whose "foolishness" is wiser than human wisdom and whose "weakness" is stronger than human strength.For us today, this verse offers a profound lesson: The heart of our Christian message must always remain fixed on Jesus Christ and His atoning sacrifice. For example, a sermon that captivates with rhetoric but neglects the cross, or a ministry that focuses on self-help strategies over redemption, misses the very essence of the gospel that truly changes lives. Similarly, personal witness should highlight Christ's finished work, not just moral living.