1 Corinthians 2:4 Commentary and Bible Study

He did not speak so that the attraction was in human wisdom. Now here is a problem. What does he mean by, ‘Demonstration of the Spirit and of power’? Well it is quite clear in the context that what he means is the power of God in working within and changing the life. He means God’s power in regenerating a person, bringing spiritual life into a person, in awakening the soul, establishing communion with himself, so that a person can pray, having understanding of the word of God. It is the anointing which helps a person to understand the truth of God. Demonstration of the Spirit and power bring about a real change within. Today, particularly among charismatic people, the tendency is to say that power, the power word there, means miracles: ‘In demonstration of the Spirit and mighty works and miracles.’ It said by Charismatic friends, ‘Oh, you have got to have miracles in order to impress the unbeliever, in order to convince him and to turn him to Christ. We want the miracles of apostolic times, the betokenings, the things which were designed by God to authenticate the apostles. We want them today, because here the apostle says that when he preached the gospel, it was both the gospel and the miracles. It was the word and mighty deeds and power.’ But what they don't understand is that the apostle Paul uses the ‘power’ word more frequently to describe the work within, the unseen secret work of conversion manifesting itself in new life. He uses it more in that context in the New Testament than ever he does to describe signs and wonders. He does use it that way, but here he is using it to describe the work within. This can be demonstrated right through all the epistles of Paul, but in Ephesians he says, ‘What is the exceeding greatness of his power to usward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power’ (Ephesians 1:19). He compares the conversion of the soul with the resurrection of Christ, and the moral resurrection of a believer in sanctification to the resurrection of Christ. In verse 18 he says, ‘The eyes of your understanding being enlightened, that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of his power to usward who believe.’ It is incontrovertible that he is talking about the power of the inner work, and this is how the apostle most uses the power word in the New Testament. In Ephesians 3:16 we read, ‘That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory to be strengthened with might’ – the word ‘might’ is the power word – ‘by his Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your heart.’ That is an inner work of God, and it is the same in verse 20 of that chapter, ‘Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us.’ He uses that power word much more in the New Testament in connection with the work within us, than he does when he speaking very occasionally of powers, wonders and mighty deeds.