Paul in Weakness, Fear and Trembling 1 Corinthians 2:3

When Paul the apostle came to Corinth, he “determined not to know any thing among” them, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified”, and in chapter two and verse three of First Corinthians, Paul the apostle continued his letter by sharing how he was among the Corinthians “in weakness, fear and trembling” where we read:

And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.

The verse begins, “And I was with you in weakness,...” Paul began with the words, “And I” which means “and Paul the apostle” “was with you” which means “Paul was near and among the Corinthians” “in weakness” or “in want of strength, infirmity and frailty”. Paul did not enter Corinth in “strength or power” but in “infirmity and frailty”.

The verse continues, “... and in fear, and in much trembling.”. Paul added the words, “and in fear” or “and in exceeding dread, terror and reverence” “and in much” which means “and in plenteous and abundant” “trembling” which means “quaking with fear”. In addition to being with the Corinthians in “weakness”, Paul also entered among them with “exceeding reverence” and “quaking”.

When we meditate upon these words from Paul, we may be able to imagine how “humbly” Paul entered to share with the Corinthians. Rather than exercising his “power and authority” as an “apostle of Jesus Christ”, Paul came to the Corinthians with “infirmity, reverence and quaking”. We might wonder why? Paul desired for the people of Corinth to exalt Jesus Christ and not himself. God Almighty and Jesus Christ were to receive the “glory” for the plan of Salvation, not Paul, and when he approached them with “Christ crucified” he did so in a manner that should be emulated by all who share the “good news” of Jesus Christ.

Next time Paul shares how his“speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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