29 August 2022
When I came to you, brothers and sisters, I did not come proclaiming the mystery of God to you in lofty words or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and him crucified. And I came to you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling. My speech and my proclamation were not with plausible words of wisdom, but with a demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith might rest not on human wisdom but on the power of God.
From 1 Corinthians 2:1-5, NRSV
We may be surprised to hear Paul’s description of himself here since he was a man noted for his learning and eloquence and who elsewhere in his teaching was not shy about letting others know of his credentials and of how much suffering he had undergone in the name of Christ. However, when Paul came to Corinth he made the decision to come as a witness rather than as a preacher. He wanted to rely on the Spirit rather than on human wisdom and for the people he met to come to faith in God rather than to be impressed by him. Not only did Paul choose to surrender his self-reliance and the skills that would have made him feel confident, but he also risked the very real threat of persecution for giving witness to the crucified Christ. No wonder, then, that he felt fear and trembling in approaching his task!
- Why do you think Paul wanted the community in Corinth to know how he had felt during his stay with them?
- Have you ever been in a situation where you needed to rely on the guidance of the Spirit rather than on your own strengths?
Pray for the courage to follow the promptings of the Spirit – even if this makes you feel unprepared for what you need to deal with.
Image – Christ Crucified 1632 Diego Velazquez
