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1 Corinthians 2:1

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2:1When I came1 to you, brothers and sisters,2 I did not come with superior eloquence or wisdom as I proclaimed the testimony3 of God.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Grk “and I, when I came.” Because of the difference between Greek style, which often begins sentences or clauses with “and,” and English style, which generally does not, κἀγώ (kagō) has not been translated here.
  2. 2 Grk “brothers.” See note on the phrase “brothers and sisters” in .
  3. 3 A few important (𝔓46vid א* A C as well as some versions and fathers) read μυστήριον (mustērion, “mystery”) instead of μαρτύριον (marturion, “testimony”). But the latter has wider support (א2 B D F G Ψ 33 1739 1881 𝔐 and some versions), though not quite as impressive. μαρτύριον may have been changed by scribes in anticipation of Paul’s words in 2:7, or conversely, μυστήριον may have been changed to conform to 1:6. Transcriptionally, since “the mystery of God/Christ” is a well-worn expression in the corpus Paulinum (1 Cor 2:7; 4:1; Eph 3:4; Col 2:2; 4:3), while “testimony of Christ” occurs in Paul only once (1 Cor 1:6, though “testimony of the Lord” appears in 2 Tim 1:8), and “testimony of God” never, it is likely that scribes changed the text to the more usual expression. A decision is difficult in this instance, but a slight preference should be given to μαρτύριον.

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

And so it was with me, brothers and sisters. When I came to you, I did not come with eloquence or human wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

When I came to you, brothers and sisters, announcing the mystery of God to you, I did not come with brilliance of speech or wisdom.

NLTNew Living Translation

When I first came to you, dear brothers and sisters, I didn’t use lofty words and impressive wisdom to tell you God’s secret plan.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come with superiority of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God.

KJV 1900King James Version

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