1 Corinthians 8:11

8:11 So by your knowledge the weak brother or sister, ¹  for whom Christ died, is destroyed. ² 

1 Corinthians 8:2

8:2 If someone thinks he knows something, he does not yet know to the degree that he needs to know.

1 Corinthians 2:1

2:1 When I came ³  to you, brothers and sisters, ⁴  I did not come with superior eloquence or wisdom as I proclaimed the testimony ⁵  of God.

1 Corinthians 2:1-2

2:1 When I came ⁶  to you, brothers and sisters, ⁷  I did not come with superior eloquence or wisdom as I proclaimed the testimony ⁸  of God. 2:2 For I decided to be concerned about nothing ⁹  among you except Jesus Christ, and him crucified.

¹ tn Grk “the one who is weak…the brother for whom Christ died,” but see note on the word “Christian” in 5:11.

² tn This may be an indirect middle, “destroys himself.”

³ tn Grk “and I, when I came.” Because of the difference between Greek style, which often begins sentences or clauses with “and,” and English style, which generally does not, κἀγώ (kagw) has not been translated here.

⁴ tn Grk “brothers.” See note on the phrase “brothers and sisters” in 1:10.

⁵ tc ‡ A few important mss (Ì^46vid א* A C pc as well as some versions and fathers) read μυστήριον (musthrion, “mystery”) instead of μαρτύριον (marturion, “testimony”). But the latter has wider ms support (א² B D F G Ψ 33 1739 1881 Ï and some versions), though not quite as impressive. μαρτύριον may have been changed by scribes in anticipation of Paul’s words in 2:7, or conversely, μυστήριον may have been changed to conform to 1:6. Transcriptionally, since “the mystery of God/Christ” is a well-worn expression in the corpus Paulinum (1 Cor 2:7; 4:1; Eph 3:4; Col 2:2; 4:3), while “testimony of Christ” occurs in Paul only once (1 Cor 1:6, though “testimony of the Lord” appears in 2 Tim 1:8), and “testimony of God” never, it is likely that scribes changed the text to the more usual expression. A decision is difficult in this instance, but a slight preference should be given to μαρτύριον.

⁶ tn Grk “and I, when I came.” Because of the difference between Greek style, which often begins sentences or clauses with “and,” and English style, which generally does not, κἀγώ (kagw) has not been translated here.

⁷ tn Grk “brothers.” See note on the phrase “brothers and sisters” in 1:10.

⁸ tc ‡ A few important mss (Ì^46vid א* A C pc as well as some versions and fathers) read μυστήριον (musthrion, “mystery”) instead of μαρτύριον (marturion, “testimony”). But the latter has wider ms support (א² B D F G Ψ 33 1739 1881 Ï and some versions), though not quite as impressive. μαρτύριον may have been changed by scribes in anticipation of Paul’s words in 2:7, or conversely, μυστήριον may have been changed to conform to 1:6. Transcriptionally, since “the mystery of God/Christ” is a well-worn expression in the corpus Paulinum (1 Cor 2:7; 4:1; Eph 3:4; Col 2:2; 4:3), while “testimony of Christ” occurs in Paul only once (1 Cor 1:6, though “testimony of the Lord” appears in 2 Tim 1:8), and “testimony of God” never, it is likely that scribes changed the text to the more usual expression. A decision is difficult in this instance, but a slight preference should be given to μαρτύριον.

⁹ tn Grk “to know nothing.”