1 Cor. 2:3 I stood before you feeling inadequate, filled with reverence for God and trembling under the sense of the importance of my words. 4 The message I preached and how I preached it was not an attempt to sway you with persuasive arguments but to prove to you the almighty power of God’s Holy Spirit. 5 For God intended that your faith not be established on man’s wisdom but by trusting in his almighty power.[1]
Paul had tried to use convincing wise word to sway the crowd in Athens and failed. Very few listened and fewer still became believers. By the time he arrived in Corinth, he probably felt a bit battered. Could it be that he decided not to try the theological speech? He knew God had sent him on this mission trip and he obviously has great respect for God. He knew how important words could be.
Instead of using his extensive Jewish training, he decides to let the Spirit work. When he had tried to use man’s wisdom it had not worked well. He began to understand that you can’t argue anyone into faith. That comes by the power of the Holy Spirit. 1 Cor. 2: 13 And we articulate these realities with the words imparted to us by the Spirit and not with the words taught by human wisdom. We join together Spirit-revealed truths with Spirit-revealed words. 14 Someone living on an entirely human level rejects the revelations of God’s Spirit, for they make no sense to him. He can’t understand the revelations of the Spirit because they are only discovered by the illumination of the Spirit.[2]
It is good to know why you believe what you believe, but we still can’t argue anyone to faith. That is still the job of the Holy Spirit. As we share our faith, we need to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit’s leading so that we can act as the hands and feet of Jesus to those around us.
To hear how Paul cooperated with the Holy Spirit when he was in Corinth, listen here: https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/series/mission-trip-two-radio-show/the-power-of-the-holy-spirit
[1, 2] The Passion Translation®. Copyright © 2017 by BroadStreet Publishing® Group, LLC. thePassionTranslation.com