both of physical and mental weak ness. "I just felt that you are going to expect the kind of a message that I am not ready to preach. I am just going to tell you about Christ. And if you are coming to hear a per formance when I preach, you are going to be disappointed because I am not going to put on a per formance. I am simply going to tell you about Jesus Christ." Then Paul says that he was with them also "in fear and in much trembling." The Creek word is phobos. It speaks of panic or fear in our English language. It also has wrapped up in it the idea of run ning away. Paul is saying that "I was fearful. I thought maybe I should not go, maybe these people are so entertainment-oriented that they will simply not listen to the message of salvation." The word "trembling" or "tremor" comes from the Greek word "truomos" which simply means to shake or to tremble. Now Paul is saying that, "I was weak. I was fearful. I was almost ready to turn and take flight. In fact, I was trembling." And not, may 1suggest, because he thought the message was inadequate. He was a bit apprehensive that they would be expecting a performance and would not be ready and would not accept this powerful message of salvation, which is found in Jesus Christ. Not only was Paul knowledge able about his listeners, he knew the content of an effective message. Paul says, "And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with ex cellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of Cod." There is one aspect of his source of an effective salvation
trine that would encourage them to go on in the deeper things of the Lord. They were not ready for that. Paul did not come with an analysis of some new philosophy. No, Paul determined that the one thing that these people needed was to know Christ as their per sonal Savior. That is the first step that anyone has to take when he looks out on an audience. Do they know Christ? And if they do not, the need is for a simple evangel istic message to lead them to Je sus Christ as their personal Savior. Now Paul, as he analyzed these listeners, recognized something else. He knew that they were going to expect a pleasing message. La ter on, Paul says that the day will come when people will expect to have a message that will "tickle their ears." They will expect some thing that will be pleasing to them, rather fanciful. They wanted to be entertained. But Paul chose not to approach them in that way. Because of that, he was apprehensive. Notice in verse 3 he says, "And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling." Now from what I understand about Paul in looking at the Scripture, I do not think Paul was afraid of taking the step forward for Christ. Paul is saying, "I knew what you people would expect. I have analyzed you. I have heard about some of the things that go on there in the city of Corinth and some of the Creek cities. I came to you apprehensive because I was going to present simply the Person of the Lord Je sus Christ and Him crucified." Paul says here that he came to them and he was with them in weakness. Now the Creek word that is used for "weakness" speaks
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