Most people know what it’s like to explain a matter, only to
be told by their hearers that they don’t understand what you are talking about.
Its frustrating for all involved. That said, I am often impressed by the
apostle Paul’s writings, with both his ingenious mind and yet his ability to explain
matters simply, most of the time. Paul’s ability to adjust an explanation for
complexity or simplicity according to who he knows will be reading is worthy of
our attention. What’s more, Paul was able to masterfully do the same when
speaking to people in person.
When writing to the Corinthian church about his earlier
visit, Paul explains that when I came to you, I
did not come with eloquence or human wisdom as I proclaimed to you the
testimony about God. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except
Jesus Christ and him crucified. I came to you in weakness with great fear and
trembling. My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words,
but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not
rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power (1 Corinthians 2:1-5).
The most striking quality that I notice is Paul’s humility. Although
he had the highest credentials, Paul didn’t speak with
eloquence which I’m sure he could have if he wanted. Speaking
instead in words that would be easy to receive, Paul communicated the testimony about God in a way that could
not only be understood, but believed in. Key to Paul’s introduction of the
gospel was that He disciplined his explanation to Jesus
Christ and Him crucified. He resisted any tendency to explain more
than only what was needed for the purpose of the gospel.
Recognising Corinth’s Gentile culture, there was no need to
unpack Old Testament Jewish teaching. Rather, Paul wisely spoke in a manner that
the average citizen would understand. His desire to be effective at
communicating the truth of Jesus Christ motivated determination at presenting
the essentials relevant to his listeners for the occasion. In other words, the
core gospel truth is what Paul focused on, which was the Corinthian’s greatest
need at the time. More complex teaching would come later in the life of the future
Corinthian church.
Knowing Paul as we do, it’s hard to imagine he felt weakness with great fear and trembling in
those early days of evangelism in Corinth. Yet his nervousness was motivated by
humility and a correct desire for gospel effectiveness. Obviously Paul was not
trying to impress people with his personality, knowledge, or speaking skills. The
truth is, his lack of personal charisma could have easily been a deterrent to
his audience. But it wasn’t. As is always the case when the gospel is
proclaimed, it is the operation of the Holy Spirit who invisibly infuses the necessary
power to change people’s lives.
The same remains true today, with the Holy Spirit working
through simple and clear explanations of Jesus’ gospel, so that faith
might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power. Be encouraged to learn the biblical gospel
essentials well, so that as the Lord provides opportunities you will be able to
explain it simply, clearly, and in an understandable way for your hearer. We
don’t need to be an apostle, or to have higher education for this, but we do
need humility with willingness. May the Lord enable each of us to
prepare ourselves for the times when we can speak of Jesus Christ and Him crucified.
