Commentary on the Epistles to the Corinthians John Calvin
Chapter
1 Corinthians 2:1-2
1 Corinthians 2:1-2 1. And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God.
1. Et ego, quum venissem ad vos, fratres, veni non in excellentia sermonis vel sapientiae, annuntians vobis testimonium Dei.
2. For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.
2. Non enim eximium duxi, (vel, duxi pro scientia,) scire quicquam inter vos, 102 nisi Iesum Christum, et hunc crucifixum.
1. And I, when I came Paul having begun to speak of his own method of teaching, had straightway fallen into a discussion as to the nature of gospel preaching generally. Now again he returns to speak of himself, to show that nothing in him was despised but what belonged to the nature of the gospel itself, and did in a manner adhere to it. He allows therefore that he had not had any of the aids of human eloquence or wisdom to qualify him for producing any effect, but while he acknowledges himself to be destitute of such resources, he hints at the inference to be drawn from this — that the power of God shone the more illustriously in his ministry, from its standing in no need of such helps. This latter idea, however, he will be found bringing forward shortly afterwards. For the present he simply grants that he has nothing of human wisdom, and in the meantime reserves to himself this much — that he published the testimony of God Some interpreters, indeed, explain the testimony of God in a passive sense; but as for myself, I have no doubt that another interpretation is more in accordance with the Apostle's design, so that the testimony of God is that which has come forth from God — the doctrine of the gospel, of which he is the author and witness. He now distinguishes between speech and wisdom ({λόγον} {ἀπὸ} {τὢς} {σοφίας}.) Hence what I noticed before 103 is here confirmed — that hitherto he has not been speaking of mere empty prattling, but has included the entire training
102"Car je n'ay point eu en estime de scauoir aucune chose ou rien deli-ber~ de sqauoir entre vous:" — "I had nothing in esteem as knowledge; or, I determined to know nothing among you."
103Calvin refers to what he had said when commenting on an expression which occurs in chap. 1:17 — not with wisdom of words.