Was Paul's preaching based on human wisdom or on the Spirit and power?
Paul's preaching was not based on human wisdom. He did not rely on enticing words of man's wisdom. Instead, his speech and preaching were in the demonstration of the Spirit and of power. This confirms that the message rested on God's power, not on polished human oratory or Greek philosophy.
Les explains that Paul's speech and preaching were not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but what he spoke was in the demonstration of the Spirit and of power. Paul was not a polished orator like Apollos or some Greek philosophers, and he had to overcome that, but the Spirit of God did it. Les compares it to planting a seed: you may drop a word to someone and think it will never amount to anything, yet the Spirit uses it to accomplish something and one day it comes back. The focus is on faith, not works, and the power comes from God rather than human eloquence.
And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:
More Questions
What did Paul say about his own speech and preaching in 1 Corinthians 2:4?
Paul said his speech and preaching were not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but what he spoke was in the demonstration of the Spirit and of power.