Reading through the Bible-Jesus Christ and Him crucified

1 Corinthians 2:1-4, "And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power."

When I came to you: Paul's arrival in Corinth is described in Acts 18. He came and met a Christian couple named Aquila and Priscilla, who were tentmakers by trade, like Paul. He ministered in Corinth for more than a year and a half, supporting himself by tent making.

Did not come with excellence of speech: Paul didn't come as a philosopher or a salesman; he came as a witness (declaring to you the testimony of God).

Paul was certainly a man who could reason and debate persuasively, but he didn't use that approach in preaching of gospel. He made a conscious decision (I determined) to put the emphasis on Jesus Christ and Him crucified. Paul was an ambassador, not a salesman.

Not to know anything "does not mean that he left all other knowledge aside, but rather that he had the gospel, with its crucified Messiah, as his singular focus and passion while he was among them." (Fee)

I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling: Paul was not brimming with self-confidence. Knowing the need and his own limitations made him weak and afraid. Yet it kept him from the poison of self-reliance, all let God's strength flow.

Not with persuasive words: Paul is not rejecting preaching, even persuasive preaching (his sermon before Agrippa in Acts 26 is a remarkable example of persuasive preaching). Paul is rejecting any reliance on the preacher's ability to persuade with human wisdom.

But in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: Paul knew it is the preacher's job to preach; it is the Holy Spirit's job to demonstrate. Paul's preaching may not have been impressive or persuasive on a human level, but on a spiritual level it had power.

Dear God, may I live this day as a witness to Jesus Christ and Him crucified.  period.