1 Corinthians 2:2

Context

Paul founded the church at Corinth on his first visit to the city (Acts 18), and 1 Corinthians is generally understood to be a letter he wrote later, during his stay in Ephesus. At the time, the Corinthian church was divided into factions aligned with different leaders (1 Corinthians 1:12), and its members tended to prize eloquence and wisdom. Beginning at 1:18, Paul declares that the message of the cross is a stumblingblock to the Jews and foolishness to the Gentiles, but to those who believe it is the power of God. In 2:1-5 he then looks back on his first arrival in Corinth. He writes that he did not come "with excellency of speech or of wisdom" (v. 1), and that he was with them "in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling" (v. 3). His purpose was "that your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God" (v. 5). Verse 2, "For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified," is the central statement of this recollection.

Interpretation

• A cross-centered understanding of the gospel: Many Protestant interpreters read this verse as a declaration that the heart of the gospel lies in the death of Jesus Christ and its significance. The Greek term rendered "crucified" is a perfect participle (a form indicating that the result of a past action continues into the present). For this reason, many interpreters hold that it emphasizes an abiding identity, "the one who has been crucified," rather than merely a past event.
• Lutheran reading: At the Heidelberg Disputation of 1518, Martin Luther contrasted the "theology of glory" with the "theology of the cross," citing 1 Corinthians 1 in support. The Lutheran tradition connects this passage with the theology of the cross, which holds that God reveals himself in suffering and weakness.
• Reformed and evangelical reading: In the Presbyterian and Reformed traditions, the verse is often cited as a basis for "Christ-centered preaching," the principle that preaching should place Christ and his work at the center.
• Pentecostal and charismatic reading: This reading takes the verse together with the "demonstration of the Spirit and of power" in the following verse (v. 4). It emphasizes that the proclamation of the gospel must rely on the power of the Holy Spirit rather than on human persuasiveness.
• Historical reading: Some scholars read the verse against the background of Greco-Roman orators, who drew audiences with ornate rhetoric. On this interpretation, Paul deliberately distanced himself from such methods.

Debates and Issues

• The theory of a change of approach after Athens: Paul went to Corinth after his speech at Athens recorded in Acts 17. On this basis, some interpreters hold that, because his philosophical approach had borne little fruit, he resolved at Corinth to preach only the cross. Those who disagree point out that the Athens speech also included a proclamation of the resurrection. They also regard this verse not as Paul's self-correction but as a statement directed at the Corinthian church's veneration of wisdom.
• Translation questions: There is grammatical discussion over what the negative modifies in the Greek text. The verse can be read as "I determined not to know," or as "I did not judge it necessary to know anything else." Korean translations generally render it in the former sense, and many hold that the difference in meaning between the two readings is slight.
• Quotation out of context: The verse is sometimes used to disparage scholarship or theological study. In response, many point out that Paul goes on in verse 6 to say, "Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect," indicating that he was not rejecting knowledge as such.

In the Korean Church

The verse is frequently cited in Holy Week sermons and in sermons emphasizing the essence of the gospel.

Related Passages

• 1 Corinthians 1:22-25
• 1 Corinthians 2:4-5
• Galatians 6:14
• Acts 18:1-11
• Philippians 3:7-10