NOTHING BUT JESUS, AND HIM CRUCIFIED

Passage: 1 Corinthians 2:1-5

Key verse: 2

NIV

2 And so it was with me, brothers and sisters. When I came to you, I did not come with eloquence or human wisdom(A) as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God.[a] 2 For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.(B) 3 I came to you(C) in weakness(D) with great fear and trembling.(E) 4 My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words,(F) but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power,(G) 5 so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power.(H)

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Footnotes
  1. 1 Corinthians 2:1 Some manuscripts proclaimed to you God’s mystery
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

Proclaiming Christ Crucified

2 And I, when I came to you, brothers,[a] (A)did not come proclaiming to you (B)the testimony[b] of God with lofty speech or wisdom. 2 For I decided to know nothing among you except (C)Jesus Christ and him crucified. 3 And (D)I was with you (E)in weakness and in fear and much trembling, 4 and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of (F)the Spirit and of power, 5 so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men[c] but (G)in the power of God.

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Footnotes
  1. 1 Corinthians 2:1 Or brothers and sisters
  2. 1 Corinthians 2:1 Some manuscripts mystery (or secret)
  3. 1 Corinthians 2:5 The Greek word anthropoi can refer to both men and women
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

1. Paul's resolution (1-2)

Paul was a highly educated scholar, but when he preached or taught the Bible, he did not show off his knowledge. He resolved to talk only about Jesus who was crucified for our sins. We don't have to know many things to be Christians; we only have to know Jesus and him crucified for our sins and for the sins of the world. If we don't know Jesus, then no amount of knowledge can save or help us.

2. Faith must rest on God's power (3-5)

When Paul first came to Corinth, he was overwhelmed by the moral corruption of the Corinthians. He did not know what to do, so he prayed a lot and preached the gospel of Jesus' death and resurrection. The Holy Spirit moved the hearts of people, and they put their trust in Jesus. Our faith must rest, not on our own knowledge, but on God who works in us with resurrection power.

Prayer: Lord, give me a repentant heart so that my faith may rest on your power, not on my own ideas.

One Word: Know Jesus and him crucified