1 Corinthians 2 – Seven Characteristics of God’s Mouthpiece

Characteristics of God’s Mouthpiece (1 Corinthians 2:1-16) – Paul took some time to remind the Corinthian believers of what he was like when he preached the gospel message. This was to remind them that the impact that was made was not based on him, but on God empowering His Word to change the hearts of people. Let us take a look at what is included and not included in being a mouthpiece for God:

 

• Not Necessarily Eloquent (1 Corinthians 2:1)

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.

Paul reminded the Corinthians that he did not come to them as a great speaker with great philosophic ideas, he simply came proclaiming God’s Word. We need to know that it is not a requirement to be a great public speaker to be a mouthpiece for God, we just need to proclaim what God said.

 

• Not Necessarily Well Educated (1 Corinthians 2:2)

2 For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.

Paul did not claim to be a great philosopher or to be brilliant in all areas of life. What he knew was that Jesus Christ provided a payment for man’s sin. We do not need to be brilliant at math or science or history to be used of God. We need to know and proclaim the Gospel and the rest of God’s Word. Those are the things that will change people.

 

• Not Necessarily Confident and Strong (1 Corinthians 2:3)

3 I was with you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling,

Paul came into Corinth beat up and alone. He was probably not himself. He certainly would not have been the picture of confidence let alone arrogance. When we are weak we are less likely to operate in self and then we become much more usable in the hands of God.

 

• Reliant on God’s Power (1 Corinthians 2:4-5)

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.

Paul likely abandoned the technique he used in Athens trying to use pagan philosophy and the wisdom of met to presentation the Gospel. He went into Corinth empty and if God did not show up then Paul’s message would go unheard, but God did show up and the foundation laid for the church at Corinth was based on God’s power. We need to resist the temptation to make Christianity sound more intelligent or sophisticated. It is a simple message that man is broken and in need of a Savior. Simple, but powerful.

 

• Not Necessarily Understood (1 Corinthians 2:6-11)

6 Yet we do speak wisdom among those who are mature ; a wisdom, however, not of this age nor of the rulers of this age, who are passing away ;

7 but we speak God’s wisdom in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God predestined before the ages to our glory ;

8 the wisdom which none of the rulers of this age has understood ; for if they had understood it they would not have crucified the Lord of glory ;

9 but just as it is written, “THINGS WHICH EYE HAS NOT SEEN AND EAR HAS NOT HEARD, AND which HAVE NOT ENTERED THE HEART OF MAN, ALL THAT GOD HAS PREPARED FOR THOSE WHO LOVE HIM.”

10 For to us God revealed them through the Spirit ; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God.

11 For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so the thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God.

Paul knew that some would not understand the message that he shared. Those who do not see the brokenness in mankind and think that we are the solution and not the problem will not see the need of rescue. We must understand that the wisdom of the world runs counter to that of God. Some level of spiritual maturity is required to understand what God is doing and that requires tutelage from the Holy Spirit.

 

• Not Necessarily Well-Received (1 Corinthians 2:12-16)

12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God,

13 which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words.

14 But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised.

15 But he who is spiritual appraises all things, yet he himself is appraised by no one.

16 For WHO HAS KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD, THAT HE WILL INSTRUCT HIM? But we have the mind of Christ.

Paul knew that those who were hard of heart would not receive the Gospel message. We must understand that the results of sharing God’s message are not within our control. We must faithfully share the message He has given us and leave the rest in His hands. The popularity of a message does not determine its truthfulness.