may be connected either with the word came, ' I came not with excellency of speech ; ' or with the word declaring^ * I came not declaring with excellency of speech, &c.' The former mode is generally preferred, not only because of the position of the words in the sentence, but also because of the sense. Paul does not mean to say merely that he did not de- clare the testimony of God in a rhetorical or philosophical manner ; but that what he declared was not the wisdom of men, but the revelation of God.
The testimony of God may mean either the testimony which Paul bore concerning God, or God's own testimony, i. e. what God had revealed and testified to be true. " The testimony of God " is, in this sense, the gospel, as in 2 Tim. 1, 8. The latter interpretation best suits the connection, as throughout these chapters Paul contrasts what reason teaches vrith what God teaches. He did not appear as a teacher of human wisdom, but as announcing what God had revealed.
2. Por I determined not to Imow any thing* among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.
For is confirmatory. *I came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, for I determined, &c.' The negative particle in this sentence may be connected either with the word to know^ *I determined 7iot to know;' or with the word determined^ ' I did not determine, i. e. I had no inten- tion or purpose.' The position of the words (ov yap iKpwa) is in favour of the latter interpretation. The meaning in either case is the same.
JesKS Christy and him crucified. Paul's only design in going to Corinth was to preach Christ ; and Christ not as a teacher, or as an example, or as a perfect man, or as a new starting point in the development of the race — all this would be mere philosophy ; but Christ as criicified^ i. e. as dying for our sins. Christ as a propitiation was the burden of Paul's preaching. It has been well remarked that Jesus Christ re- fers to the person of Christ, and him crucified^ to his work ; which constitute the sum of the gospel.
3. And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembhng.
* The common text here is toO e/Scvat r\. The rov is omitted in the MSS., A, B. C. D. E. F. G. The reading adopted in the recent editions is rX eiSevou.