SEV Biblia, Chapter 2:4
Y ni mi palabra ni mi predicacin fue en palabras persuasivas de humana sabiduría, sino en demostracin del Espíritu y de potencia;
Clarke's Bible Commentary - 1 Corinthians 2:4
Verse 4. And my speech] o logov mou, My doctrine; the matter of my preaching. And my preaching] to khrugma mou, My proclamation, my manner of recommending the grand but simple truths of the Gospel.
Was not with enticing words of man's wisdom] enpeiqoiv anqrwpinhv sofiav logoiv, With persuasive doctrines of human wisdom: in every case I left man out, that God might become the more evident. I used none of the means of which great orators avail themselves in order to become popular, and thereby to gain fame.
But in demonstration of the Spirit] apodeixei, In the manifestation; or, as two ancient MSS. have it, apokaluyei, in the revelation of the Spirit.
The doctrine that he preached was revealed by the Spirit: that it was a revelation of the Spirit, the holiness, purity, and usefulness of the doctrine rendered manifest: and the overthrow of idolatry, and the conversion of souls, by the power and energy of the preaching, were the demonstration that all was Divine. The greater part of the best MSS., versions, and fathers, leave out the adjective anqrwpinhv, man's, before sofiav, wisdom: it is possible that the word may be a gloss, but it is necessarily implied in the clause. Not with the persuasive discourses, or doctrines of wisdom; i.e. of human philosophy.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 4. And my speech, and my preaching , etc.] As he determined, so he acted. As the subject matter of his ministry was not any of the liberal arts and sciences, or the philosophy and dry morality of the Gentiles, but salvation by a crucified Christ; so his style, his diction, his language used in preaching, was not with enticing words of mans wisdom ; with technical words, words of art, contrived by human wisdom to captivate the affections; and with bare probable arguments only, a show of reason to persuade the mind to an assent, when nothing solid and substantial is advanced, only a run of words artfully put together, without any strength of argument in them; a method used by the false teachers, and which the apostle here strikes at, and tacitly condemns: but in demonstration of the Spirit, and of power ; partly by making use of solid proofs out of the writings of the Old Testament, indited by the Spirit of God, and which amounted to a demonstration of the truths he delivered; and partly by signs, and wonders, and miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, those extraordinary instances of divine power, which greatly confirmed the doctrines he preached: and besides all these, the Spirit of God wonderfully assisted him in his work, both as to words and matter; directing him, what to say, and in what form, in words, not which human wisdom taught, but which the Holy Ghost taught; and accompanying his ministry with his power, to the conversion, comfort, edification, and salvation of many.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-5 - Christ, in his person, and offices, and sufferings, is the sum an substance of the gospel, and ought to be the great subject of a gospe minister's preaching, but not so as to leave out other parts of God' revealed truth and will. Paul preached the whole counsel of God. Fe know the fear and trembling of faithful ministers, from a deep sense of their own weakness They know how insufficient they are, and are fearfu for themselves. When nothing but Christ crucified is plainly preached the success must be entirely from Divine power accompanying the word and thus men are brought to believe, to the salvation of their souls.
Greek Textus Receptus
και 2532 CONJ ο 3588 T-NSM λογος 3056 N-NSM μου 3450 P-1GS και 2532 CONJ το 3588 T-NSN κηρυγμα 2782 N-NSN μου 3450 P-1GS ουκ 3756 PRT-N εν 1722 PREP πειθοις 3981 A-DPM ανθρωπινης 442 A-GSF σοφιας 4678 N-GSF λογοις 3056 N-DPM αλλ 235 CONJ εν 1722 PREP αποδειξει 585 N-DSF πνευματος 4151 N-GSN και 2532 CONJ δυναμεως 1411 N-GSF
Vincent's NT Word Studies
4. In demonstration (en apodeixei). Only here in the New Testament. Lit., a showing forth.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
2:4 {Not in persuasive words of wisdom} (ouk en piqois sofias logois). this looks like a false disclaimer or mock modesty, for surely the preacher desires to be persuasive. this adjective piqos (MSS. peithos) has not yet been found elsewhere. It seems to be formed directly from peiqw, to persuade, as feidos (fidos) is from feidomai, to spare. The old Greek form piqanos is common enough and is used by Josephus (_Ant_. VIII. 9. 1) of "the plausible words of the lying prophet" in #1Ki 13. The kindred word piqanologia occurs in #Col 2:4 for the specious and plausible Gnostic philosophers. And gullible people are easy marks for these plausible preachers. Corinth put a premium on the veneer of false rhetoric and thin thinking. {But in demonstration} (all' en apodeixei). In contrast with the {plausibility} just mentioned. this word, though an old one from apodeiknumi, to show forth, occurs nowhere else in the New Testament. {Spirit} (pneuma) here can be the Holy Spirit or inward spirit as opposed to superficial expression and {power} (dunamis) is moral power rather than intellectual acuteness (cf. #1:18).
