God's Message, Not Man's

1Corinthians 2:1-5

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. I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.

(NKJV – copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.)


Paul wrote his first letter to the church at Corinth somewhere around AD 55. Satan had brought division into the church through pride. Once the fellowship of believers was divided, sin and immorality began to creep in. Rivalries, revelries, and reputations had begun to destroy the ministry of the young church.

Paul writes this letter as a simple and straightforward answer to these problems. As the letter develops, we are shown some in the congregation began placing themselves above others. Pride was the issue here. Some would make it a point to distinguish themselves by pointing out their "Christian credentials". In that day, these credentials revolved around a believer's "religious" background and which teacher they followed. Not much has changed. This division which began in the heart, soon made it to the pew rows, pulpit, and the public. Word of it reached Paul who was pasturing a church hundreds of miles away in Ephesus. This silly division led to weakness. This weakness led to sin setting up shop in the church.

The problem at Corinth began with prideful people. I urge you as followers of Christ not to fall into this trap. Paul reminds the church that he did not come to them with pride. There was no great speech or production which convicted them. They were witnessed to by the Power of God working in Paul's life thru the Holy Spirit. Our churches are to heed this advice. People are not intruduced to Christ by "great" preachers, elaborate productions, or music programs. People are led to Christ when they see the Holy Spirit full of power and working in the life of a believer.
As Paul instructs on how to remove this cancer from the Corinthian church he reminds them of the nature of the gospel. You see, the gospel is not found in prestigious preaching or pious people, but in the Power of God.