4 My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power,
4 and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power,
4 and so nothing I said could have impressed you or anyone else. But the Message came through anyway. God's Spirit and God's power did it,
4 And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power,
4 And my message and my preaching were very plain. Rather than using clever and persuasive speeches, I relied only on the power of the Holy Spirit.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on 1 Corinthians 2:4
Commentary on 1 Corinthians 2:1-5
(Read 1 Corinthians 2:1-5)
Christ, in his person, and offices, and sufferings, is the sum and substance of the gospel, and ought to be the great subject of a gospel minister's preaching, but not so as to leave out other parts of God's revealed truth and will. Paul preached the whole counsel of God. Few know the fear and trembling of faithful ministers, from a deep sense of their own weakness They know how insufficient they are, and are fearful 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.