Paul's Gospel Mannerisms
How Paul shared the gospel according to 1 Corinthians 2:1-5
Currently, I am studying for a Master of Divinity from Maranatha Baptist Seminary. I have already been so blessed by the courses that I have taken and can't wait for more! This Spring, I am taking Exposition of First Corinthians. This letter to the Corinthians is incredibly relevant for our day and age.
Throughout the rest of the semester, I will occasionally modify my discussion forum posts and post them on Substack. This week's post is on 1 Corinthians 2:1–5, as we discussed Paul's manner of preaching the gospel to the Corinthians.
In 1 Corinthians 2:1-5, Paul describes his manner of preaching the gospel to the Corinthians. Here, he explains both what he did and didn't do.
Paul didn't come with "superiority of word or of wisdom." This refers to a preeminence or a superior attitude. Instead of spending time and energy focusing on developing his own eloquence, he simply proclaimed the mystery of God.
He decided that he would make knowing Christ his priority. Paul focused on what mattered: Christ and His crucifixion.
Paul presented the gospel even though it was with physical weakness. His words also lacked persuasiveness. Instead of presenting a dominating physical or mental presence, Paul allowed the Spirit to demonstrate His power through him.
This was done so that the belief of the Corinthians would not be based on him or his presentation. Rather, he wanted them to learn to rely on God and His power.
I believe we should follow Paul's example in his presentation of the gospel. Rather than dedicating himself to presenting a compelling argument or an imposing figure, Paul "got out of the way" and simply presented the facts of the gospel.
This may present itself in a number of ways. It could look like an intentional decision to not invest valuable time in things that aren't directly tied to the presentation of the gospel. When we do share God's Word with others, it may mean that we don't rush into apologetics or showing off our knowledge of history. As we preach, it may mean that we don't overly script or plan out what we say and how we say it. Although these things are not bad, perhaps we ought to spend serious time thinking and praying about whether or not they match our theology.
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Soli Deo Gloria,
Caleb Friske