1 CORINTHIANS CHAPTER 2
The Preaching of the Cross. 1 Cor. 2, 1—16.
Paul's preaching not in man's wisdom: V. 3. And I was with you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling. V. 4. And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, V. 5. that your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.
The theme, or subject, of his preaching having been announced, Paul describes himself as preacher among his hearers and readers: And I came and was among you in a state of weakness and of fear and of much trembling. The experiences which Paul had just had in Thessalonica, Berea, and Athens, before coming to Corinth, had brought him into a state of deep dejection, Acts 18, 5. 9.
And his spiritual weakness in this case had been increased by his weak and infirm body, 2 Cor. 10, 1. 10, which was often racked with illness, Gal. 4, 13. 14.
He was ever conscious of his want of resources for the task before him, and therefore was troubled with diffidence and timidity, 2 Cor. 7, 5. At least in his own opinion, Paul seems to have lacked the bold appearance, the imposing personality which makes an impression upon the average audience.
But the very fact that he came without all artificial expedients served as a foil to bring out all the more strongly the quality of the message with which he was entrusted. For his speech and his preaching was not in persuasive words of wisdom; he used no philosophical argumentation, no oratorical tricks; he did not try to make his message plausible by the skill of the trained dialectician.
But by that very token the apostle's message was delivered in demonstration of the Spirit and of power; the Holy Spirit, through the preaching of Paul, gave the demonstration of His power, 1 John 5, 6; it was the power of God which was exerted upon the hearts of the hearers when Paul brought his message, 1 Thess. 1, 5. So the demonstration of the Spirit is contrasted with that of mere words, and the demonstration of power with that of mere logical argumentation.
And the purpose of Paul in so doing was that the faith of his hearers might not be based upon the wisdom of men, but upon the power of God. If they had merely given assent to his teaching as a fine philosophical system which contained much to render it plausible, their faith would have rested upon treacherous sand. Paul's intention, therefore, was to direct their hearts and minds to the power of God alone, through which they had been called, gathered, enlightened, and sanctified, that God alone might be glorified in the faith of the Corinthians. Thus Paul has described the beginning of his ministry in Corinth in regard to his bearing, theme, personal feeling, method, and aim.