In Corinth, what kind of preaching was Paul inspired to use as the most effective?
1 Corinthians 2:1
And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God.
Many would be tempted to try and electrify a new crowd with “lofty words and impressive wisdom” (NLT), but not Paul. He “didn’t use big words or try to sound wise.” (CEV) What was he determined to give in his presentations?
1 Corinthians 2:2
For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.
Paul’s focus was on the content of his preaching, Jesus Christ, rather than on himself and any oratory technique. As a result of this focus, how did he approach a sermon?
1 Corinthians 2:3
And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.
The Holy Spirit wants us to know that if we are not self-aware of the reality of our own human weakness, and the enormity of the responsibility of preaching, we will fail. Paul’s fear and trembling reveal a person who is very mindful of the enormity of the preacher’s task. What did Paul rely upon to fulfill his burden?
1 Corinthians 2:4
And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:
Rather than rely upon the insincere rhetorical devices of side-show hawkers and traveling salesmen, so often seen in modern pulpits, Paul wanted only to be led by the Holy Spirit. What was his motive?
1 Corinthians 2:5
That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.
Paul’s greatest desire was not building his own empire, but the kingdom of God. What happens when preachers rely on the silver-tongued wisdom of this world?
Hidden Wisdom
1 Corinthians 2:6
Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought:
Preaching the Gospel ought to be very different to the flamboyant and meaningless verbiage of the worldly wise “who are coming to nothing” (NIV). What is the missing ingredient?
1 Corinthians 2:7
But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:
This hidden mystery can only be known by divine revelation. Jesus prayed to the Father, "O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, thank you for hiding these things from those who think themselves wise and clever, and for revealing them to the childlike.” (Matthew 11:25 NLT)
1 Corinthians 2:8
Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
This world’s leadership is often a cause of pain to all, rather than a blessing. Roman and Jewish politics caused the crucifixion.
1 Corinthians 2:9
But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
Here again we find Paul paraphrasing an Old Testament text (Isaiah 64:4). Paraphrasing is allowed. God has prepared wonderful present and future blessings for those who love Him. Yet they were revealed. How?
1 Corinthians 2:10
But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
There is knowledge (science) that is not revealed by physical means alone. What do we know by the Spirit of God?
1 Corinthians 2:11
For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.
The physical sciences are limited to physical knowledge. Theology, the study of God, was once called the queen of the sciences by people who understood that some things are ONLY knowable by the Spirit of God. Who can know these things?
1 Corinthians 2:12
Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
This hidden spiritual knowledge is free to us. Who teaches us this knowledge?
1 Corinthians 2:13
Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
Comparing the Hebrew Scriptures with New Testament truths is important. This last clause is also understood as, “using the Spirit's words to explain spiritual truths” (NLT) or “explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words” NIV). Why can’t the natural, unconverted mind understand these things?
1 Corinthians 2:14
But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
Science is knowledge, but as someone without special equipment cannot see DNA, there is some science that cannot be discovered without spiritual discernment. “The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God” (NIV). What can such spiritual discernment judge?
1 Corinthians 2:15
But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.
What? Didn’t Jesus tell us not to judge (Matthew 7)? Yes, but he also told us not to cast our pearls before swine and beware of false prophets, so we must judge or discern who those people are. Jesus condemns judgmentalism (a critical spirit) but not righteous judgment (discernment).
The spiritual person has an ability to judge things that the natural person cannot, nor can the natural person make a judgment as to what the spiritual person is doing. What mind does the spiritual person have?
1 Corinthians 2:16
For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? but we have the mind of Christ.
At least in part, we have an understanding of the mind of Christ, as the Holy Spirit teaches us. This is something completely alien to the person without the Spirit.
Paul was totally disinterested in trying to electrify a crowd with “lofty words and impressive (human) wisdom” because he understood that something else was far more powerful and important, “the things of the Spirit of God.”
