How did Paul say he would come to the Corinthians — with philosophy or with power?
Paul said he would not come to the Corinthians with smooth talk or the big long words of the philosophers. Instead, he would come to them with power, the wisdom and power of God, not human eloquence. That power accompanied the simple gospel of Christ and brought people out of paganism.
Les explains that Corinth was near Athens, so the Corinthians were accustomed to hearing philosophers with smooth talk and big words. Paul rejected that approach, saying he would not come with a bunch of smooth talk or the philosophers' long words, but with power. Les points out that this is the wisdom and power of God, which Paul uses over and over. It was not Paul's fast talking or language that brought people out of paganism; it was the power of God when he preached the simple gospel of Christ, and the Holy Spirit helped them understand that they were sinners for whom Christ died and rose from the dead. Verse 20 confirms that the kingdom of God is not in word but in power.