1 Corinthians 2:5Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Here it is not so. The Holy Spirit does not enter an unclean soul, and when He has entered, He cannot be defeated, even if the whole power of eloquence should rise against Him. For proof by deeds and signs is far clearer than proof by words.

But perhaps someone will say: if the preaching must conquer and has no need of verbal power, so that the Cross may not be emptied, why have signs now ceased? Why? Do you not believe and think that there were none even in the time of the Apostles, or do you truly wish to know when you say this?

If you do not believe, I will first pause over this. If there were no signs then, how did the Apostles persuade? They were persecuted, oppressed, subject to fear and chains, enemies common to all and hated by all. They had nothing attractive in themselves: no eloquence, no nobility, no wealth, no fame from city, people, birth, or skill, and nothing else of the kind. Rather, they had everything opposite to these: lack of learning, low birth, poverty, simplicity, and contempt. Besides this, they rose up against whole nations and proclaimed such truths.

How did they persuade? Their rules were not easy, their dogmas were dangerous, and the hearers who had to be persuaded were given over to pleasure, drunkenness, and great impiety. How then did they persuade, tell me? How did they gain trust? If, as I said before, they persuaded without signs, this is an even greater sign.

This alone, according to the Apostle’s rebuking thought, that is, his example, should already have taught the Corinthians not to be carried away by the external learning and eloquence of the local teachers. Rather, with all heart and mind, they should have listened to the chief saving subject of apostolic preaching.

Theodoret writes: “For this very reason the Master did not allow us to use eloquence, so that your faith would prove not subject to suspicions and wavering, since it was not aroused by the power of speech, but guided by the power of the Spirit.”

St. Chrysostom gives on this point an extensive instruction applicable to all times: “Do you see how clearly he presents the great benefit of simplicity and the great harm of wisdom? The latter humbled the Cross, while the former proclaimed the power of God. The latter caused people not to know what they should know and to boast in themselves. The former disposed them to accept the truth and to boast in God. Wisdom suggested to many that they consider the Apostolic teaching human. Simplicity clearly expressed that it was divine and had come down from heaven.

When proof is made from wise words, then often the unworthy, being stronger in speech, prevail over the worthier, and falsehood takes the place of truth. But here it is not so. The Holy Spirit does not enter an unclean soul. Once He has entered a soul that desires purity, He cannot be overcome, even if the whole power of eloquence rises against Him. For proof by deeds and signs is far clearer than proof by words.

But perhaps someone will say: if preaching must conquer and has no need of the power of speech, lest the Cross be made of no effect, why have signs now ceased? Why? Do you not believe, and do you think there were no signs even in the time of the Apostles? Or do you truly only wish to know why? If you do not believe, I shall first stop at this.

If there were no signs then, it means that the Apostles, who were persecuted, oppressed, subjected to fear and bonds, and were common enemies and hateful to all, had nothing attractive in themselves. They had neither eloquence, nor nobility, nor wealth, nor fame by city, nation, birth, art, or anything similar. They had everything contrary to these: lack of learning, obscurity, poverty, simplicity, and contempt. Yet while rising against whole nations and proclaiming such truths, they produced conviction.

Their rules were not easy, and their dogmas were difficult to understand. The hearers who had to be persuaded were given over to sensual pleasure, drunkenness, and great impiety. How, then, did they persuade them? Tell me, how did they gain trust? If, as I said before, they persuaded without signs, then this itself is an even greater sign.

Therefore do not conclude from the fact that there are no signs now that there were none then. Then they existed with benefit, and now it is beneficial that they do not exist. Nevertheless, from the fact that persuasion is now produced by the word alone, it does not follow that preaching now depends on wisdom.

Just as the first sowers of the word were simple and unlearned, and said nothing from themselves, but handed on to the world what they had received from God, so also we now offer not our own, but proclaim to all what we received from them. Even now we persuade not by syllogisms, but by the testimonies of the divine Scriptures. Through the signs of that time we inspire faith in what is proclaimed. Yet the Apostles also persuaded then not by signs alone, but also by discourses. Only their words received greater power from signs and from the testimonies of the Old Testament Scripture, not from the art of eloquence.”