“And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:”
My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power — 'wise and persuasive words' (sophia kai logoi pithoi tēs sophias) represent the sophistic ideal: rhetorical mastery. Instead, Paul's preaching came 'with demonstration of the Spirit's power' (apodeixei pneumatos kai dynameos). The Spirit's work is not decorative but constitutive; it is the power that transforms hearers. Corinth would have measured Paul as a weak speaker.
Church Fathers on 1 Corinthians 2:4
“And my speech and my preaching was not in persuasive words of wisdom:” that is, had not the wisdom from without. Now if the doctrine preached had nothing subtle, and they that were called were unlearned, and he that preached was of the same description, and thereto was added persecution, and trembling and fear; tell me, how did they overcome without Divine power? And this is why, having said, “My speech and my preaching was not in persuasive words of wisdom,” he added, “but…
Nicene & Post-Nicene / Ante-Nicene Fathers translations · public domain
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