The phrase “fear and trembling” is meant to point one to a servant’s attitude and not to an unhealthy fear.
Last time we looked at the phrase “fear and trembling” as used by Paul in Philippians and showed how it is meant to show an attitude of humility and servanthood. This time we will look at a similar phrase Paul used in I Corinthians:
1 Corinthians 2:3
I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling.
Some have said that Paul said this because he was unsuccessful in Athens right before he came to Corinth (Acts 17). They argue that Paul had tried to argue intellectually with the Athenians and he wasn’t very fruitful, so when he came to Corinth he was discouraged and switched tactics. I think it’s debatable that Paul was unsuccessful in Athens but even if he was a failure there I don’t think he would be so discouraged that he would be in fear and trembling. From what we know about Paul from his writings he appears to be a bull that brings his own china shop with him. This is the same guy who sang praises after he was beaten and then demanded an escort after his release from prison (Acts 16).
Furthermore, Paul affirms that he is using the same tactic that he used in Athens when he says:
1 Corinthians 9:19-22
Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God's law but am under Christ's law), so as to win those not having the law. To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some.
In Athens, Paul became an intellectual to win intellectuals. If he was not successful then it was because of the soil (Matthew 13:1-23) and not his method of sowing the seed. Paul’s use of the words “fear” and “trembling” have nothing to do with being discouraged or afraid of how the Corinthians would respond but Paul was saying he became weak (a humble position), like them, to win them.
The Corinthians had encountered some people in the Church who had expounded wisdom. This put the authority of Paul into question since he did not speak with the “wisdom” of others. Paul responds by pointing that the wisdom of this world with not worth anything:
1 Corinthians 1:20-27
Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength.
Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.
Paul also points out that he could have spoken with wisdom but they were not ready for it yet:
1 Corinthians 3:1-2
Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual but as worldly—mere infants in Christ. I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it.
1 Corinthians 2:1-7
When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling. My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power.
We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. No, we speak of God's secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began.
And just like in Philippians, Paul points out that those who are mature (those with wisdom) should not use their authority in a selfish way but should give up what they are entitled to if it better serves others:
1 Corinthians 4:1
So then, men ought to regard us as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the secret things of God.
1 Corinthians 9:11-12
If we have sown spiritual seed among you, is it too much if we reap a material harvest from you? If others have this right of support from you, shouldn't we have it all the more? But we did not use this right. On the contrary, we put up with anything rather than hinder the gospel of Christ.
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