These is a passage in Scripture that always makes me the most confused, yet at the exact same time, takes me to a place of absolute marvel.
In 1 Corinthians 2:1-5, we read about the most influential apostle of all time—a man who reached the furthest, wrote the most, and expanded the gospel further than anyone could have ever imagined. Yet, when he came to preach, he did so in fear, in weakness, and in much trembling.
Think about who Paul actually was. He was a brilliant intellectual, a Roman citizen who spoke at least four languages, and a Rabbi with elite political and religious “pedigree”.
He was brought up at the feet of Gamaliel, one of the three greatest teachers of the Law Israel had ever seen, and was in line to replace him—until Jesus found him.
Even his post-conversion resume is staggering. Commissioned by Jesus Himself, Paul suffered intensely for Christ: he was whipped, shipwrecked, imprisoned, persecuted by the Jews, questioned by the church, and even stoned to death and resurrected by a prayer.
Paul had every right to boast, to speak with authority, and to demand respect.But instead, he humbled himself, served, and worked with his own hands to provide for himself. He actively chose not to use the superiority of speech he was fully capable of using.
He refused to use his human wisdom—those persuasive words of knowledge that impress people and ultimately make them dependent on human intellect. Instead, the only wisdom he chose to rely on was Christ, and Him crucified.What an upside-down Kingdom!
Like Israel limping after wrestling with the angel, Paul chose to be weak (non-dependent on his personal strength), fearful (non-dependent on his own plans), and trembling (treating his mission with great awe and fear of the Lord). He didn’t want to be the “powerful Paul” he could easily claim to be in his flesh.
The Contrast: Paul vs. Modern Communication
When we look at Paul’s radical approach, it stands in glaring contrast to how we do things today. Modern writing, speaking, and leadership are almost entirely built on “superiority of speech” and human wisdom.
We are taught to write persuasively, to manipulate emotions, to polish our personal brands, and to leverage our “pedigrees” to build an audience. Modern communicators often try to be the “powerful” version of themselves in the flesh, relying on impressive intellect and clever marketing to make people dependent on their platforms and their knowledge.
But Paul completely rejected persuasion and manipulation. The great, wise man who sat at Gamaliel’s feet realized he had to diminish and completely die to himself. He knew that if he used his natural talents, people would be impressed by him, but if he relied wholly on the Spirit, their faith would rest in the power of God.
Wow! Wow! Wow!
Reading this brings me to a simple, desperate prayer:
Teach me, Lord, to die to myself so that people will have their faith established entirely on You! Please teach me to make disciples for You, and never for myself. In Jesus’ name!
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