For shows that the function of this verse is to explain in greater detail what has been said in verse 1. The Greek is literally “For I did not decide to know anything…,” meaning I decided to know nothing …. In contrast with those in Corinth who tell everyone how much they know, Paul wanted to limit the knowledge he claimed to know to knowledge about Christ the crucified—in other words, that is all he wanted to talk about and share with them. Although the form of verse 2 is negative, it may be translated positively, as in Good News Bible‘s rendering: “I made up my mind to forget everything.” One may also translate as “I made up my mind to preach only about…”; however, it is better to retain something about “knowing” in the context of the problems in Corinth.
The Greek verb translated decided indicates an act of judgment, but its use with know is unusual; how can one decide what to know? Good News Bible‘s positive statement, “I made up my mind to forget everything,” helps to solve this problem in English. Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch has “I had decided,” since the Greek verb can refer to an event that took place earlier than those mentioned in verse 1; that is, it can refer to a decision that Paul made before he reached Corinth. Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch continues: “… not to bring you anything else than Jesus Christ.” Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente has “I had decided not to teach anything else than Christ.” This whole sentence may also be rendered as “I had decided that I would not teach anything else than the story about Jesus Christ.”
As we have already stated in the comments on 1.23, Paul generally uses Christ as a proper noun. But here it may have its original meaning, “the Messiah.” The word for and in the phrase and him crucified could then show a contrast. In order to demonstrate this contrast, we should translate these two phrases as “Jesus as the Messiah—but a crucified Messiah!” or “Jesus as the Messiah—but a Messiah whom they put to death on a cross.” In languages where Messiah is translated as “God’s Chosen Savior,” one may render this phrase as “Jesus, God’s Chosen Savior, but a Savior whom they crucified.”
Good News Bible rightly adds “especially,” to show that the last words of this verse are emphasized. As in 1.23, the tense of the verb “crucify” indicates a past event whose consequences stretch forward into the present. Bible en français courant has “and more precisely, Jesus Christ nailed on the cross.”
Quoted with permission from Ellingworth, Paul and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians, 2nd edition. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1985/1994. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .