1 Corinthians 2:1-5

What does it mean to make a proclamation?

The english use of “proclamation” doesn’t clearly communicate the entire meaning of the word as Paul intends.

The english definition of “proclamation” is a public or official announcement, especially one dealing with a matter of great importance.

While this is correct, it falls short in demonstration what Paul means when he uses the term in .

1 Corinthians 2:1 ESV

And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom.

The Greek word used here is καταγγέλλω - (katangello) which means to proclaim, but not in the exact sense of our modern definition.

Let’s look at another place word is used in the same context:

.

Acts 16:21 ESV

They advocate customs that are not lawful for us as Romans to accept or practice.”

The way katangello is translated in this passage is “advocate.”

Note: This should not be confused with the greek term “parakletos” which is often translated as advocate, helper, or comforter and is used three times by Jesus to describe the Holy Spirit.

, ,

Luke uses “katangello” in because “advocate” is being used in a legal sense.

This is the same intention of Paul in .

advocate (legal) n. — a person who acts as a spokesperson or representative of someone else’s policy, purpose, or cause; especially before a judge in a court of law.

Notice that Paul uses the phrase “testimony of God.”

The Greek word used here is μαρτύριον - (martyrion) meaning witness.

Note: Some of our manuscripts use the word mystery or secret.

testimony n.- evidence or proof provided by the existence or appearance of something.

This is clearly indicating that the testimony of God is a statement bearing witness about God.

In terms of our faith a testimony is the spoken truth of something you personally witness that provides evidence about YHWH.

Something that strikes me is how often when you hear a christian testimony it is spoken in a way that doesn't reflect the truth of who God is, or the message of the Gospel.

We have a tendency to think the word “testimony” is strictly referring to our conversion experience, and in that we seem to want to dramatize it to keep it from being boring.

I have heard so many testimonies that seem to focus more on the sin than what actually happened.

Not only that but when other christians hear these kinds of testimonies it makes them wonder about their own conversion.

I did not have to overcome drugs, or violence, or porn, or alcohol, and there was no huge dramatic transformation, but the fact of the matter is that we were all dead and destined for destruction and the Spirit stirred our heart and the Father offered us a gift and we took it.

Paul goes on to say that what he did was not with lofty speech or earthy wisdom.

He spoke Jesus from the heart, in the moment, guided by Spirit.

A testimony doesn’t have to be this super dramatic, rehearsed speech. We don’t have to embellish it. All we have to do is speak Jesus from our heart.

God doesn’t need us to help him out.

I have heard it said that a person’s testimony is the best way for us to minister to others, and I believe there is much truth in this, however, all we can witness is who we know God is as given us by His word, and talk about areas of our lives where we have experienced Him.

People can tell when a testimony isn't from the heart, and to try to embellish it or speak anything into it that isn’t true is not Biblical.

Look @

1 Corinthians 2:5 ESV

so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.

When we falsify our witness of God, it can cause the faith of many to ignorantly rest in the word of man.

Where in the Gospel does God promise release from depression, or anxiety, or sickness, or addiction?

When we base our testimony on such things we present a false gospel to the world.

Even worse than this, when we credit God for something he didn’t do, we are taking His name in vain.

Keep reading on in

1 Corinthians 2:6–16 ESV

6 Yet among the mature we do impart wisdom, although it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to pass away. 7 But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glory. 8 None of the rulers of this age understood this, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 9 But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”— 10 these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. 11 For who knows a person’s thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. 13 And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual. 14 The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. 15 The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one. 16 “For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.

This is much different

1 Corinthians 2:6–13 ESV

6 Yet among the mature we do impart wisdom, although it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to pass away. 7 But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glory. 8 None of the rulers of this age understood this, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 9 But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”— 10 these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. 11 For who knows a person’s thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. 13 And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.

This is telling us that our role in advocating the witness of God is to speak truth by the Spirit so that the message we are speaking clarifies the stirring of the Holy Spirit in the lives of others.

A lost person is being pursued, tormented by the Spirit, and we speak in the power of God a message that reveals the reality of what they are experiencing.

This is how He works through us.

Read on........

1 Corinthians 2:16 ESV

16 “For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.

We need not worry about the judgement of others when speaking Jesus. It doesn’t make a difference if our friends or church family think our testimony is powerful. It doesn’t matter if they think its too simple, or not smart enough, or not well spoken. What matters is that we realize our role in the Father’s work and we trust Him, having access to His wisdom and His mind, and are obedient to let the Spirit guide us in what He has given us to be a voice confirming the transformation in the heart of another; Helping them to see Christ in their own life, and welcoming them into the Kingdom of God.

1 Corinthians 2:1-5

Proclamation

Testimony