1 Corinthians 2:1

1 Corinthians 2:1 says, And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God.  Paul was a very educated man, but he did not come to people with eloquent speech, proclaiming his power as he did when persecuting Christians, but instead came with the simple message of Christ.  As followers of Christ today, that is how we must come to people.  We cannot witness out of a feeling of superiority, but as humble servants of God.  We do not need eloquent words, only the simple message of Christ crucified, resurrected, and Lord.  Verse two adds, For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. Today, people who are lost many times like to argue about God and why He does or doesn't do certain things, but our message must always be the simple truth of the gospel.  Verse three continues, And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.  Paul did not say that he was never afraid, but that even when he was afraid, he still came to them proclaiming the gospel. We are not called to be supermen, never knowing that we could place our lives in danger for the gospel, but we are called to place our fears in God's hands and to continue witnessing for Christ.  Elijah fled in fear after experiencing a great display of God's power, but when he heard God in a quiet voice, not in displays of power, he was revived in faith.  If we are suddenly overcome with fear, we need simply to listen for God's voice to strengthen us.  Through the Holy Spirit God is with us always so we have no need to fear. Verse four states, And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:  If we want to be effective witnesses, we need to demonstrate the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives.  As Paul said, enticing words are not enough. People could see the change in Paul's life, and they should be able to see it in ours.  Verse five Paul adds, That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.  Paul knew that the wisdom of men could lead people away from God, but that faith in God gave them the ability to overcome any doubts they had.  This remains true today.  We must follow God in faith even if the world calls us weak and foolish.  Verse six continues, Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought:  When Paul spoke of those who were perfect, he was speaking about those who viewed themselves that way.  Paul spoke to them with the wisdom of God, not the wisdom of man that they put their faith in.  We today must approach those that we witness to the same way.  We have the power of God with us.  Verse seven says, But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:  God's wisdom is indeed a mystery to those who do not know Him. Salvation through the death of Christ is a hidden mystery to those who do not see it through faith in God.  This was God's plan of salvation from the beginning.  Verse eight adds, Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.  Paul states that if the princes of the world, those in power, had known Who Christ was, they would not have crucified Him.  If people today understood Who Christ really is, they likewise would not reject His gift of salvation.  Unfortunately, worldly wisdom and power often come between people and the cross.