1 Corinthians 2:1–2: And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.
Paul did not use the philosophic method of preaching. He was not a textual or a topical preacher; he was an expositor of the Word of God. I personally believe that is God’s method. It was the method our Lord used, by the way. Neither did Paul use flowery nor oratorical language. Secondly, Paul did not come in the wisdom of the world, declaring the testimony or the mystery of God. A mystery simply means “that which had not been revealed before.” The mystery of God which Paul preached was that Jesus Christ had been crucified. That had not been preached before but now had been revealed. In the Old Testament the crucifixion of Christ was revealed in type and in prophecy only. The actual event was something new, something not previously revealed. Paul simply stayed right with the preaching of the Cross of Christ. He preached a crucified Savior, One who had died for the sins of the world. That is the type of ministry which is so desperately needed today. 1
Application
- Be encouraged; your elegant words will never save anybody. (Trust the Holy Spirit.)
- The lost need to hear from you about how Jesus has provided redemption for them.
Thought to Share
What people need to know is that you know Him. – TWEET IT
Prayer
Lord, may I make known to others the demonstration of Your great love for them.
1. McGee, J. V. (1991). Thru the Bible commentary: The Epistles (1 Corinthians) (electronic ed., Vol. 44). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
