‘And so it was with me, brothers and sisters. When I came to you, I did not come with eloquence or human 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 with great fear and 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 human wisdom, but on God’s power.’
Paul explains not just what he preached in Corinth, but how and why he preached that way. Writing to a church impressed by rhetoric, status, and philosophical sophistication, Paul deliberately contrasts the values of the gospel with the values of the surrounding culture. Paul begins by rejecting “lofty speech or wisdom.” This does not mean he despised learning or clarity—Paul was highly educated—but that he refused to rely on persuasive techniques that would shift attention from Christ to the speaker. His message was intentionally narrow: “Jesus Christ and him crucified.” In a Greco-Roman world that prized strength, honour, and eloquence, a crucified Messiah was scandalous and unimpressive. Yet Paul insists this is the very centre of God’s saving work. He then describes his personal posture among them: weakness, fear, and trembling. Rather than projecting confidence or authority, Paul embraced vulnerability. This was not insecurity but theological conviction. He wanted no confusion about the source of spiritual power. If lives were changed, it would not be because Paul was impressive, but because God was present.
Deeper Dive
Paul emphasises that his message came with a “demonstration of the Spirit and of power.” This refers not merely to miracles, but to the Spirit’s active work—conviction, transformation, and faith itself. The power of the gospel is not aesthetic or intellectual persuasion but divine action. The purpose of this approach is made explicit in verse 5: “so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.” Paul’s ultimate concern is the foundation of faith. Faith built on human brilliance is fragile; faith grounded in God’s power endures. This passage challenges every generation of Christians to examine where their confidence lies—in technique, charisma, and cultural approval, or in the simple, unsettling power of the cross.
‘And so it was with me, brothers and sisters. When I came to you, I did not come with eloquence or human 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 with great fear and 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 human wisdom, but on God’s power.’
Paul explains not just what he preached in Corinth, but how and why he preached that way. Writing to a church impressed by rhetoric, status, and philosophical sophistication, Paul deliberately contrasts the values of the gospel with the values of the surrounding culture. Paul begins by rejecting “lofty speech or wisdom.” This does not mean he despised learning or clarity—Paul was highly educated—but that he refused to rely on persuasive techniques that would shift attention from Christ to the speaker. His message was intentionally narrow: “Jesus Christ and him crucified.” In a Greco-Roman world that prized strength, honour, and eloquence, a crucified Messiah was scandalous and unimpressive. Yet Paul insists this is the very centre of God’s saving work. He then describes his personal posture among them: weakness, fear, and trembling. Rather than projecting confidence or authority, Paul embraced vulnerability. This was not insecurity but theological conviction. He wanted no confusion about the source of spiritual power. If lives were changed, it would not be because Paul was impressive, but because God was present.
Deeper Dive
Paul emphasises that his message came with a “demonstration of the Spirit and of power.” This refers not merely to miracles, but to the Spirit’s active work—conviction, transformation, and faith itself. The power of the gospel is not aesthetic or intellectual persuasion but divine action. The purpose of this approach is made explicit in verse 5: “so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.” Paul’s ultimate concern is the foundation of faith. Faith built on human brilliance is fragile; faith grounded in God’s power endures. This passage challenges every generation of Christians to examine where their confidence lies—in technique, charisma, and cultural approval, or in the simple, unsettling power of the cross.
