“Brothers, when I came to you, I did not come with superiority of speech or wisdom, declaring to you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. I was with you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling. My speech and my preaching were not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.” 1 Corinthians 2:1-5

We learn much about Paul’s ministry in Corinth from reading Acts 18, but here Paul shares an important truth: It is through the humble preaching of God’s Word that lost sinners are brought to repentance and faith in Jesus Christ.

As the Apostle Paul said, he didn’t come to them with “superiority of speech or wisdom” when he declared the Word of God. He focused on preaching “Jesus Christ and Him crucified.” His words were with “weakness and in fear and in much trembling.” His words were not “with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.”

In other words, Paul simply proclaimed God’s Word and let the Spirit of God work mightily by convicting the lost of their sins and guilt, but then comforting them with the grace and mercy of God in Jesus Christ and His atoning sacrifice on the cross for the sins of the world. Paul brought no one to faith by eloquent speech, convincing arguments, or enticing words. Rather, he preached Christ crucified for the sins of all.

And, as Paul says, the Holy Spirit worked in the hearts of the Corinthian believers through the humble preaching and teaching of the gospel. Therefore, the faith of the Corinthian believers was not dependent upon human wisdom and arguments but on the gracious and mighty working of the Holy Spirit through God’s Word.

And who received the glory? It was not the Apostle Paul. The glory is God’s for bringing the Corinthian believers to the knowledge of the truth by the humble means of preaching and teaching God’s Word and pointing people to Messiah Jesus and His atoning sacrifice on the cross.

St. Paul wrote to the believers in Rome (Romans 1:16-17): “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ. For it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith. As it is written, ‘The just shall live by faith.’”

And what does this say to pastors and churches today? It is not through eloquent sermons, impressive church services, or uplifting musical performances that people are moved to repent of their sinful ways and trust in Christ. It is through the humble preaching and teaching of God’s Word that people learn the truth and are pointed to Jesus Christ and His cross.

Grant that I hear and share Your Word, O God, that others too might be brought to repentance and faith in the crucified and risen Savior, Jesus Christ, by the mighty working of the Holy Spirit through Your Word. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

[Scripture is quoted from The Holy Bible, Modern English Version, Copyright © 2024, 2017, 2014 by United Bible Association. Published and distributed by Charisma House. All rights reserved.]