The Power of God

“For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.” – 1 Corinthians 1:17

Glorifying Human Speech

Why would preaching the gospel “with words of eloquent wisdom” empty the cross of its power?

Paul seems to believe that there is a way to preach the gospel that minimizes, drains, undervalues, underestimates, or as he says “empties” it of the power that it has to save. Perhaps what he is observing about words of eloquent wisdom is that there is a tendency in the human mind to glorify human speech. Indeed in their culture, Greek philosophy and rhetoric were highly prized and those who mastered the oratory arts were often regarded and praised for their ability. Paul sees seeking to employ methods and tools that are idolized by the culture as a threat to the power of the gospel to save. We should note that Paul seems to make a deliberate decision to not speak with such eloquence, possibly even as part of his God-given task to preach the gospel: “…but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom…” We may infer that Paul is telling us not that he is simply incapable of employing such eloquence, but that Christ had given him what his task was (to preach the gospel), but also charged him with how he should preach it (not with words of wisdom), and he then tells us why this is so (lest the cross be emptied of its power).

The Power of God

Therefore, Paul will present the gospel in plain speech and rely on the power of the cross itself, communicated to the heart of the hearer by the Holy Spirit, lest someone accept the gospel on the basis of anything other than “the power of God” (1 Cor. 1:18).  Verse 18 is most helpful in this analysis.

“For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” – 1 Corinthians 1:18

So Paul’s ground for saying that he must not and will not rely on eloquence and wordly wisdom is that his message is foolishness to those who do not and will not believe; “those who are perishing.” However, “[those] who are being saved,” those who will believe, do not need elaborate arguments and clever words, they need only hear the message, clear and free of anything man might try to add. Why? Because for those who will believe, God’s elect, the message itself is the power of God.

For the Proclaimer

The reality of the simple gospel message is that it is the 100% truth about God and Paul is convinced that it is all that is needed for a person to believe and be reconciled to God. Further, Paul seems convinced that salvation is God’s sovereign work through the clear presentation of the glorious message of the perfect incarnation and life, sacrificial and substitutionary death, burial, resurrection, exaltation, rule and reign of Jesus Christ. Thus, how we preach this gospel does matter. We must remember that as the human agents of God’s reconciliation, our task and sole priority is to be clear and rely on the Holy Spirit, trusting that the gospel alone and itself is “the power of God unto salvation for those who will believe.” (Romans 1:16) As Christians who want to point our friends, family and neighbors, baristas and co-workers to Christ, this should be extremely comforting and encouraging. We should rejoice that God has employed us in his mission AND left the responsibility of convincing and converting unbelievers to himself, requiring us to simply be faithful and trust that his message of grace is his power flowing through us to the hearer. Thus, we need not fear failing when we share the gospel, simply as we may do it. It is the power of God!