1 Corinthians 2:4

4. my speech--in private. preaching--in public [Bengel]. Alford explains it, My discourse on doctrines, and my preaching or announcement of facts. enticing--rather, "persuasive." man's wisdom--man's is omitted in the oldest authorities. Still "wisdom" does refer to "man's" wisdom. in demonstration of ... Spirit, &c.--Persuasion is man's means of moving his fellow man. God's means is demonstration, leaving no doubt, and inspiring implicit faith, by the powerful working of the Spirit (then exhibited both outwardly by miracles, and inwardly by working on the heart, now in the latter and the more important way only, Mt 7:29; Ac 6:10; He 4:12; compare also Ro 15:19). The same simple power accompanies divine truth now, producing certain persuasion and conversion, when the Spirit demonstrates by it.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Verse 4. And my speech. The word speech here--if it is to be distinguished from preaching--refers, perhaps, to his more private reasonings; his preaching, to his public discourses.

Not with enticing words. Not with persuasive reasonings πειθοιςλογοις of the wisdom of men. Not with that kind of oratory that was adapted to captivate and charm, and which the Greeks so much esteemed.

But in demonstration. In the showing, αποδειξει or in the testimony or evidence which the spirit produced. The meaning is, that the spirit furnished the evidence of the Divine origin of the religion which he preached, and that it did not depend for its proof on his own reasonings or eloquence. The proof, the demonstration which the Spirit furnished, was, undoubtedly, the miracles which were wrought, the gift of tongues, and the remarkable conversions which attended the gospel. The word Spirit here refers, doubtless, to the Holy Spirit; and Paul says that this Spirit had furnished demonstration of the Divine origin and nature of the gospel. This had been by the gift of tongues, 1Cor 2:5-7, comp. 1Cor 14, and by the effects of his agency in renewing and sanctifying the heart.

And of power. That is, of the power of God, 1Cor 1:5; the Divine power and efficacy which attended the preaching of the gospel there. Comp. 1Thes 1:5. The effect of the gospel is the evidence to which the apostle appeals for its truth. That effect was seen,

(1.) in the conversion of sinners to God, of all classes, ages, and conditions, when all human means of reforming them was vain.

(2.) In its giving them peace, joy, and happiness; and in its transforming their lives.

(3.) In making them different men--in making the drunkard, sober; the thief, honest; the licentious, pure; the profane, reverent; the indolent, industrious; the harsh and unkind, gentle and kind; and the wretched, happy.

(4.) In its diffusing a mild and pure influence over the laws and customs of society; and in promoting human happiness everywhere. And in regard to this evidence to which the apostle appeals, we may observe,

(1,) that [it] is a kind of evidence which any one may examine, and which no one can deny. It does not need laboured, abstruse argumentation, but it is everywhere in society. Every man has witnessed the effects of the gospel in reforming the vicious, and no one can deny that it has this power.

(2.) It is a mighty display of the power of God. There is no more striking exhibition of his power over mind than in a revival of religion. There is nowhere more manifest demonstration of his presence than when, in such a revival, the proud are humbled, the profane are awed, the blasphemer is silenced, and the profligate, the abandoned, and the moral are converted unto God, and are led as lost sinners to the same cross, and find the same peace.

(3.) The gospel has thus evinced from age to age that it is from God. Every converted sinner furnishes such a demonstration, and every instance where it produces peace, hope, joy, shows that it is from heaven.

(1) "enticing words" "persuasible" (a) "man's wisdom" 2Pet 1:16 (b) "demonstration" 1Thes 1:5

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Verse 4 And my speech - Ὁ λογος μου, My doctrine; the matter of my preaching. And my preaching - Το κηρυγμα μου, My proclamation, my manner of recommending the grand but simple truths of the Gospel. Was not with enticing words of man's wisdom - Ενπειθοις ανθρωπινης σοφιας λογοις, With persuasive doctrines of human wisdom: in every case I left man out, that God might become the more evident. I used none of the means of which great orators avail themselves in order to become popular, and thereby to gain fame. But in demonstration of the Spirit - Αποδειξει, In the manifestation; or, as two ancient MSS. have it, αποκαλυψει, in the revelation of the Spirit. The doctrine that he preached was revealed by the Spirit: that it was a revelation of the Spirit, the holiness, purity, and usefulness of the doctrine rendered manifest: and the overthrow of idolatry, and the conversion of souls, by the power and energy of the preaching, were the demonstration that all was Divine. The greater part of the best MSS., versions, and fathers, leave out the adjective ανθρωπινης, man's, before σοφιας, wisdom: it is possible that the word may be a gloss, but it is necessarily implied in the clause. Not with the persuasive discourses, or doctrines of wisdom; i.e. of human philosophy.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain