(1) And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. (2) For I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. (3) And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. (4) And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: (5) That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.
If any man might have been supposed qualified to have used the powers of human oratory in preaching; who so proper as Paul, who had been brought up at the feet of Gamaliel; and who had studied, if we might venture to conclude as much from the elegant speech he made before Agrippa, (see Acts 26:1) the art of rhetoric, which at that time was much in use in the schools? But what a lovely view is here exhibited, of the plan of Paul's preaching, in that, he simply preached Christ. Reader! how much to be wished were it, that all whom God hath called to the ministry, would adopt the Apostle's plan. And indeed, it is matter of astonishment, that men, ravingly called themselves to the knowledge of Christ, in their own souls, and spiritually ordained, by the Holy Ghost, to preach to others; (and of all others it is of little consequence what men uncommissioned preach), should preach ought beside. When angels came from heaven, at the birth of Christ, to announce his arrival, they preached him as a Savior, Luke 2:11. When the Son of God came preaching himself, it was the same glad tidings of salvation, Matthew 18:11. And when, after redemption-work was finished, and Christ was returned to glory, and the Holy Ghost came down, the whole burden of the Apostles preaching was to the same amount: God (said they) having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you in turning away everyone of you from your iniquities. Hence daily in the temple and in every house, they ceased not to teach, and to preach Jesus Christ! Acts 5:42; Acts 5:42
There is a peculiar beauty in the Apostle's expression, not only to preach Christ, but Christ crucified. There were a thousand excellencies in Christ Paul had learnt, and on which he had often dwelt, with holy rapture. But the cross included all. There Paul fixed his eye, his heart, his whole soul. And, what he felt so truly blessed, to himself, he longed to communicate to all the Lord's people. Christ crucified, was peculiarly suited, to poor sinful men. It was worthy of all acceptation! Reader! how little do those men know of the plague of their own heart, who preach aught beside! Might not a poor sinner say, in every congregation of such men, as Job did of, those who read to him their dunghill lectures of patience: Miserable comforters are ye all: physicians of no value! Job 13:4; Job 13:4
What a humbling account the Apostle gives of himself, when standing up to minister among the people! And such must it ever be, among all those who have an awful sense of the solemn charge, in holding forth the word of life among dying sinners. Who shall calculate and note down the tears, and prayers, and anxieties, and tremblings of faithful ministers, who watch for the souls of the people, as they who must give account. Men who rush into the service uncalled, unsent, like the sons of Eli, to be put into the priest's office, can have no apprehension what these things mean. 1 Samuel 2:36. But Paul's conscious weakness, and fear, and much trembling, will be easily understood by those awakened minds, who never stand up to minister in the Lord's name, but with an holy jealousy over their own hearts; and never end their labors, but with a prayer, that their most holy things may be washed from their uncleanness, in Christ's blood! Exodus 28:38
How sweet a testimony was this to the Apostle's mind, of the Lord's speaking in the word, and by the word, when Paul saw the Lord's blessing on his labors. The demonstration of the Spirit, and of power, in every congregation of the faithful, is indeed the great refreshment, both to minister and people. Paul makes this a proof, of the most decisive kind, of the Church being chosen of God. See 1 Thessalonians 1:4 to the end. And Reader! it is this, and this alone, which forms the proper foundation, for security in the divine life. What begins in human wisdom and human strength, will end in both; Which is folly and weakness, in the highest attainments. But, what begins in the Lord, will end in the Lord, and be bottomed upon an everlasting security, Isaiah 45:24-25.