August 16: Persuasive words vs. power

When I came to you, brothers, announcing the testimony of God to you, I did not come with brilliance of speech or wisdom. For I didn’t think it was a good idea to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. I came to you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. My speech and my proclamation were not with persuasive words of wisdom but with a powerful demonstration by the Spirit, so that your faith might not be based on men’s wisdom but on God’s power.
(1 Corinthians 2:1-5 — Holman Christian Standard Bible)

The city of Corinth in the time of Paul was an important business hub between Italy and Asia. Because of this it became a wealthy city with all the latest luxury items, but was even better known for its moral decay. It was so immoral that a Greek word was coined whose meaning was “to act like a Corinthian”, a synonym for sexual immorality. Aphrodite, the goddess of love and beauty was the most worshipped god of the city. 

Now we know why Paul states that he did not come to the Corinthians with brilliant speeches or wisdom. The city was filled to the brim with all the most exciting and beautiful things of the time, and none of that had brought the city or its people any real answers. In stark contrast to what the city offered, Paul decided to know nothing more than Jesus Christ crucified — at first glance a distasteful image of death and suffering. Yet this was the one thing with the power to transform that lost city full of confused people. Paul was determined not to try and entice people with emotion and persuasive words, but with the plain truth and power.

“I came to you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling” doesn’t sound like someone filled with the Holy Spirit, but what he must have meant is that he did not rely on his own knowledge and confidence. He had many things to be proud and boastful of: he had an enviable education, had both Roman and Jewish citizenship, had accomplished a great deal for God, had been whipped and beaten for his faith, and the Lord Jesus had personally appeared to him on the road to Damascus when he was converted. But Paul refused to rely on those things, on himself, and decided to allow God’s power to flow through him to the Corinthians. Paul was convinced of a profound fact: emotion and excitement do not bring permanent change, but God’s revelation does.

Isn’t “Jesus Christ and Him crucified” an amazing message? It speaks volumes about God’s love for us, the authority we now have, and the future we can look forward to… and yet for those who are not deep thinkers, who give a hurried glance at this message, it appears ridiculous. Let’s not seek emotion and persuasive words, but the true, raw power of God that has the power to keep us strong and safe when we’re surrounded by a world of Corinthians.