1 Corinthians 2:1, commentary and pictures

After his eloquent reasoning at Athens won few converts, Paul came to Corinth deliberately without impressive speech or human wisdom to announce God's truth. The testimony he declared was eternal truth centered in Jesus Christ and Him crucified, the sum of the gospel and the theme of salvation. He adapted his teaching to hearers who were carnal babes unable to bear deeper truth, feeding them milk and the very rudiments of faith. His preaching was not with enticing words but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that faith would stand in God and not in men. This is the pattern every true worker must follow, keeping self out of sight and lifting up Jesus with humble simplicity while trusting wholly on the Spirit.

Wording and Historical Setting

Every word in the declaration carries weight and repays attention. The “I” is Paul alone speaking of his own coming to Corinth, to be carefully distinguished from the “we” and “us” used elsewhere in the same chapter. The testimony of God to be declared is eternal truth, to be given in the language of Scripture for instruction.

At Athens his extended philosophical argument and eloquent address won few converts and brought little response. He therefore deliberately set aside elaborate theories, discussion, learning, and eloquence when he came to Corinth. In their place he chose to preach the simple gospel, urging salvation through Christ and pointing sinners to Christ as Saviour.

During the year and a half he spent in Corinth he adapted his teaching to hearers who were carnal, even babes in Christ ignorant of the operations of divine power upon the heart. He fed them with milk and not with meat, instructing them in the rudiments, the very alphabet, of the Christian faith, because as natural men they were not able to bear deeper truth or comprehend the mysteries of salvation. Their slow advancement, jealousy, evil-surmising, and accusation closed their hearts against the Holy Spirit that searches the deep things of God, leaving them babes in the knowledge of Christ however wise in worldly knowledge. Among them were proud believers in human theories, exponents of false worship seeking in nature theories to contradict the spiritual and immortal life revealed in Scripture, critics, scoffing skeptics, and licentious sinners.

Though not unlearned, preaching Christ was a new work for him after Christ revealed Himself to him at Damascus, when the former persecutor became a disciple and learner. His deliberately unadorned preaching at Corinth stood in contrast with the eloquence and learning of Apollos, yet both labored for the advancement of the gospel.

Humble Christ-Centered Message

Paul declared the testimony of God at Corinth without depending on impressive speech or human wisdom, so that his message rested on God's truth rather than on the speaker's eloquence or learning. Though he was able to meet eloquence with eloquence and logic with logic, to meet oratory with oratory and philosophy with philosophy and to enter intelligently into every controversy and meet people on their own ground, he deliberately laid that ability aside and would not make his work depend on rhetorical display. God uses even humble and seemingly foolish instruments to bring learned and proud men to confession of pomp and pride, as when a poor man who could give no reason but to repeat the cry of the bridegroom brought a learned elder to his knees under the Spirit resting on his words. He spoke with eloquent simplicity, declaring what God had revealed rather than trying to please his hearers with flowery language or with the skill of an orator or philosopher.

He came in weakness and fear and much trembling with sanctified humility, so that his manner would not obscure the power of God's Word or dishonor the truth. He came not as a fine orator, debater, deep philosopher, or ruler over conscience, with no flourish of words, no boasting, and no pompous show of science or eloquence, having learned from the divine Teacher. Though enemies at Corinth called his bodily presence weak and his speech contemptible, he was not a mean speaker but the chosen man for the place with God's power upon him. He spoke so convincingly that thousands of Jews and Gentiles believed, even being taken for Mercury at Lystra, with angels making the Word effective, and the success credited not to the man but to God.

The testimony he declared is Jesus Christ and Him crucified, the sum and substance of the whole gospel, saving leaves from the tree of life, the knowledge of a crucified and risen Saviour, with the cross of Calvary as the theme of the plan of salvation. He set aside elaborate argument and philosophical discussion to proclaim salvation through Christ, especially Christ crucified, and its authority and power came from the Spirit and from God so that faith rests on God's power rather than human wisdom. He would not scatter attention with varied interesting wisdom or repeat the errors of the world, but kept attention fixed on Christ and spoke the affirmative truth of God's law, which is divine wisdom and a life-and-death question of obedience unto life or disobedience unto death.

He introduced great truths most carefully among proud believers in human theories, exponents of false worship, critics, scoffing skeptics, and licentious sinners, not directly rebuking licentiousness or showing its heinousness before a holy God at first. Instead he set before them the true object of life, practical godliness and holiness, making his burden Christ and Him crucified. Their most earnest study and greatest joy must be salvation through repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, for he sowed the seed from the point where those who followed must water and carry the work forward as the church was able to bear it.

Spirit Power versus Wisdom

Paul's speech and preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that faith should stand not in the wisdom of men but in and in connection with the power of God. His intellectual training and skill could prepare a way for the gospel, but they could not provide the power needed to convict and convert, and his work had to be sanctified by the Spirit and receive its power from God. Dependence on human minds, ideas, energy, and agencies alone is uncertain and valueless for conversion, and it puffs up self and deceives souls. That power of God endures the test of trial, breaks down opposition, melts away scientific reasoning, and brings men and women to appreciate truth that keeps them on a solid foundation, which they must hold fast as their past experience.

Among the mature he spoke wisdom, yet not the wisdom of this world nor of the princes of this world that come to nothing, but the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom ordained before the world unto glory. None of the princes of this world knew that hidden wisdom, for had they known it they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. He revealed by the Spirit the things God prepared for them that love Him which eye has not seen nor ear heard. He taught not in man's wisdom but as the Holy Ghost teaches by comparing spiritual things with spiritual, because the natural man cannot receive the things of the Spirit of God but the spiritual judges all things having the mind of Christ, so spiritual things are spiritually discerned.

True knowledge and service depend on God's wisdom, not on educational status or intellectual display. Education should center on God and His Word, not on human wisdom or grounds for boasting, with God's wisdom rather than human status the true ground for glory. The highest education develops humility because it reveals how much more there is yet to be learned, and it calls for understanding one's whereabouts.

Men devoted to worldly pursuits with sharp business traits are too worldly-wise, and to them the preaching of the cross is foolishness, so they do not come into the truth in large numbers. Not many wise after the flesh, mighty, or noble are called, but God has chosen the foolish things to confound the wise, the weak to confound the mighty, and base and despised things and things which are not to bring to nought things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence. Christ Jesus is made unto believers wisdom and righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so he that glories must glory in the Lord.

Faithful Ministry Pattern

The verse sets the pattern every true laborer must follow, learned at the foot of the cross in order to bring sheaves to Christ. It means not coming with excellency of speech or human wisdom to please ears, but declaring the testimony of God plainly, keeping self out of sight and ever lifting up Jesus to bring people to the cross and keep their peril in neglecting eternal interests distinctly in view. Joined to the resolve to know nothing but Jesus Christ and Him crucified and to labor in weakness and fear and much trembling, it means fearing lest the work stand in the wisdom of men and not in the power of God, and thus fail to do solid work and produce a harvest.

True workers first study the life of Christ until they give themselves unreservedly to Him, practice His words, become one with Him, and represent the pure principles of the Word in simplicity and meekness. Those who are pure in heart and life and closely connected with Heaven can teach with greater power to convict souls, and their preaching centered on Christ and Him crucified is offered in weakness and humility, not with enticing words of man's wisdom but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that faith stands in the power of God and not in the wisdom of men. Every worker together with God as guardian of the flock must not belittle the sacred office, but be circumspect in deportment, use capabilities with tact and skill in winning souls, have zeal according to knowledge, be a sweet savor of Christ in every place, and represent the meekness of Christ as a true witness of the great Teacher. The church has a right to expect this, and any other example God cannot acknowledge in the day when every case is decided by the Judge of all the earth.

The verse forbids one man standing supreme as a ruling despot to keep order in the church, laying authority on men and hindering the work God gave others. Ministers are to lift up the risen Saviour and preach the Word boldly. It calls ministers, conference presidents, and physicians to decided change, to wake up and work earnestly in humility, meekness, and unity of the Spirit, as humble Christlike evangelists opening the Scriptures and trusting God to quicken, strengthen, and give energy, depending wholly on grace and the Holy Spirit's striving in hearts rather than on human minds, ideas, energy, and agencies alone.

Faithful ministry gives a clear, direct testimony rather than softening the message or calling sin righteousness. It gives a straight and living testimony delivered with spiritual power rather than a smooth, general testimony that avoids confronting and correcting wrong, which does not build up the church and lulls careless members into false security. Elegant speech is not necessary in Christian labor, but the power of God is essential, and without it nothing is accomplished. It excludes coming with high-flown ideas soaring far from Christ's simplicity, theatrical subjects and illustrations fit for lecture room or theater, relating anecdotes, commonplace cheap illustrations to hold attention, symbols and representations, or instruction in phrenology and marriage. Such labor diverts the mind from the commandments of God and the testimony of Jesus, mingles the sacred and the common and confuses the mind, belittles truth to the level of common things, gives the impression the work is not sacred, does positive harm especially to youth by planting imaginings that cannot be removed, separates the soul from God, and leaves the minister to his own devising without Heaven's cooperation, while faithful ministry keeps to simplicity, practical godliness, repentance and faith, the positive requirements of God, and the mold of the third angel's message.

It excludes preaching that seeks applause through persuasive rhetoric or advances by the favor and influence of the world, since the wisdom of the world is vain before God and seeking its approval separates a worker from God. It excludes fashionable polish or elaborate argument, teaching instead a consistent, unselfish presentation of Christ through the Spirit's power, which God alone gives. In work for people devoted to wealth and influence, faithful human workers keeping Christ's words in mind and valuing them above material wealth are agents through whom God can bring genuine conversion, with the Holy Spirit leading people to accept divine principles.

Such preaching resolutely refuses to display human wisdom or exalt self, keeping self in the background and presenting Jesus only, the Man of Calvary. Through Christ's grace and the Spirit's endowment obtained by earnest persevering prayer, it goes forth weighted with soul-saving burden and zeal to extend the triumphs of the cross, converting men not to the instrument but to Christ, turning many from darkness to light, establishing many churches, giving fruit of labor, and accomplishing a work that will withstand Satan's assaults. Its approach centered on the truth of the gospel rather than elaborate argument turns people from ignorance and error to truth and moves them to believe, with deep thorough conversion turning idols of every character into means for soul-saving, seed in good ground bringing abundant fruit, good works seen, contention ceasing under sanctifying grace, and the third angel's message going as a lamp that burneth. The same distinguishing excellences and power given to Paul and Apollos, to Silas and Timothy, to Peter, James, and John are ready for those working for Christ today.

Study and Personal Application

The chapter containing this verse is to be thought over at home and given practical application together with 1 Corinthians 3, and God will help the one who applies it to understand it. It is to be read carefully, studied, and learned as fully as possible, and studied in order to understand and to practice its revealed truths. Doing one's best in such learning is all the Lord requires.

When carefully read and studied, the chapter gives a glimpse of present spiritual condition to one whose discernment is not wholly perverted. It shows that a great many who think they are prepared for the Lord's coming are not prepared. It shows the need to cease leading other souls in false paths and to fall on the Rock and be broken while mercy still lingers, that Christ may build the person up into His own likeness. Careful learning of it keeps the mind from being directed into wrong channels and from glorying in men and worldly wisdom, and its lesson is humility and diligent study, for spiritual things are spiritually discerned.

The chapter is also to be studied and practiced as instruction for overcoming enslaving appetite and strong drink by total abstinence, full cooperation, aroused moral powers, looking to Jesus and trusting His grace. It directs to keeping the body in healthful condition for service, keeping the intellect clear and active and candid and critical, presenting the body a living sacrifice holy and acceptable to God, being transformed by renewing of the mind to prove God's will, thinking soberly of self according to the measure of faith, and glorying only in the Lord. The verse calls everyone to bear testimony in the name of the Lord, to confess Christ and acknowledge experience, to separate from all hindrances, to know God's will and travel in that pathway. So lived, it makes one free, all light in the Lord, gaining good while present and making the way out of darkness into His marvelous light.