1 Corinthians 2:1

Κἀγὼ ἐλθὼν … ἦλθον : “And I at my coming … came”: the repeated vb [288] draws attention to Paul's arrival, to the circumstances and character of his original work at Cor [289] The emphasis of κἀγώ “And I ” may lie in the correspondence between the message and the messenger both “foolish” and “weak” (1 Corinthians 1:25 : so Ed [290]); but the form of the sentence rather suggests allusion to the nearer 1 Corinthians 1:26 “As it was with you, brothers, to whom I conveyed God's call, so with myself who conveyed it; you were not wise nor mighty according to flesh, and I came to you as one without wisdom or strength”. Message, hearers, preacher matched each other for folly and feebleness! “I came not in the way of excellence καθʼ ὑπεροχήν, cum eminentia (Bz [291]) of word or wisdom,” not with the bearing of a man distinguished for these accomplishments, and relying upon them for his success: this clause is best attached to the emphatic ἦλθον, which requires a descriptive adjunct (so Or [292], Cv [293], Bz [294], Hf [295] : cf. 1 Corinthians 2:3); others make it a qualification of καταγγέλλων. Paul's humble mien and plain address presented a striking contrast to the pretensions usual in itinerant professors of wisdom, such as he was taken for at Athens. ὑπεροχή, from ὑπερέχω (Philippians 2:3; Philippians 3:8; Philippians 4:7), to overtop, outdo. For λόγου ἢ σοφίας, see note on σοφία λόγου (1 Corinthians 1:17).

[288] verb

[289] Corinth, Corinthian or Corinthians.

[290] T. C. Edwards' Commentary on the First Ep. to the Corinthians. 2

[291] Beza's Nov. Testamentum: Interpretatio et Annotationes (Cantab., 1642).

[292] Origen.

[293] Calvin's In Nov. Testamentum Commentarii.

[294] Beza's Nov. Testamentum: Interpretatio et Annotationes (Cantab., 1642).

[295] J. C. K. von Hofmann's Die heilige Schrift N.T. untersucht, ii. 2 (2te Auflage, 1874).

The manner of Paul's preaching was determined by its matter; with such a commission he could not adopt the arts of a rhetorican nor the airs of a philosopher: “I came not like a man eminent in speech or wisdom, in proclaiming to you the testimony of God”. τ. μαρτύριον τ. Θεοῦ (subjective gen [296] : cf. note on 1 Corinthians 1:6) = τ. εὐαγγέλιον τ. Θεοῦ (Romans 1:2; 1 Thessalonians 2:2; 1 Thessalonians 2:13, etc.; cf. 1 John 5:9 f.), with the connotation of solemnly attested truth (cf. 2 Corinthians 1:18 f.); P. spoke as one through whom God was witnessing. κηρύσσω (1 Corinthians 1:23), denoting official declaration, gives place to καταγγέλλω, signifying full and clear proclamation (see parls.). καταγγέλλων, pr [297] ptp [298], “in the course of preaching”; cf. 2 Corinthians 10:14.

[296] genitive case.

[297] present tense.

[298] participle