Making a Defense – EGP Blog post from September 8, 2012

1 Corinthians 2:1–5 ()

[1] And when I came to you, brethren, I did not come with superiority of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony‡ of God. [2] For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified. [3] I was with you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling, [4] and my message§ and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, [5] so that your faith would not rest§ on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God.

1 Corinthians 2:1 One early ms reads mystery
1 Corinthians 2:4 Lit word
1 Corinthians 2:5 Lit be

All too often today, Believers intentionally start debates with non-believers over hot topics (homosexuality, abortion, etc.), perhaps hoping that they will “win them over to Christ” by “winning” the debate. But Paul says that if he won people over with wise words, it would “make the cross of Christ void [i.e., ‘pointless’]. For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.”

That is not to say that we are to be ignorant. On the contrary, we are to always be “ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence.” Defend in love when asked, so that “they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will.”

Key verses

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