Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary 1 Corinthians 2:1

"And I, brethren, when I came unto you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God." — 1 Corinthians 2:1 (ASV)

In alluding to his visit to Corinth, Paul is thinking of the initial trip recorded in Ac 18:1–18, when the Corinthians first heard the message of salvation and believed. He did not depend on overpowering oratory or philosophical argument.

He rather came preaching the “mystery” (GK 3696 [see NIV note]; NIV text reads GK 3457, “testimony”) of God—the message not fully understood by them before, but now explained by him and illuminated by the Holy Spirit (2:10–14).