1st Corinthians Chapter 2 verse 4 Holy Bible
And my speech and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:
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And in my preaching there were no honeyed words of wisdom, but I was dependent on the power of the Spirit to make it clear to you:
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and my word and my preaching, not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of [the] Spirit and of power;
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And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:
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My speech and my preaching were not in persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power,
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and my word and my preaching was not in persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power --
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Pulpit Commentary
Pulpit CommentaryVerse 4. - My speech and my preaching; the form and matter of my discourse. He would not attempt to use the keen sword of philosophical dialectics or human eloquence, but would only use the weapon of the cross. Was not with enticing words of man's wisdom; rather, with persuasive words of wisdom (the word anthropines is a gloss). This simplicity was the more remarkable because "Corinthian words" was a proverb for choice, elaborate, and glittering phrases (Wetstein). It is not improbable that the almost total and deeply discouraging want of success of St. Paul in preaching at Athens had impressed him mere strongly with the uselessness of attempting to fight Greek philosophers with their own blunt and imperfect weapons. In demonstration of the Spirit and of power. So he says to the Thessalonians," Our gospel came not to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance." The plain facts, so repellent to the natural intellect, were driven home with matchless force by spiritual conviction. The only heathen critic who has mentioned St. Paul's method is Longinus, the author of the treatise on 'The Sublime and Beautiful,' who calls him "a master of unproved dogma," meaning apparently that his force lay in the irresistible statement of the facts which he came to preach.
Ellicott's Commentary
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(4) And my speech.--The result which necessarily followed from this weakness and trembling was that neither his "speech" (i.e., the style of his teaching), nor his "preaching" (i.e., the subject-matter of his teaching) were of such a kind as to appeal to the natural tastes of the Corinthians.Demonstration of the Spirit.--The Apostle's demonstration of the truth of the gospel was the result of no human art or skill, but came from the Spirit and power of God, and therefore the Corinthians could glory in no human teacher, but only in the power of God, which was the true source of the success of the gospel amongst them.
