“At thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore” (Ps. 16: 11)
The Basket Case Chronicles #13
“And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ and him crucified” (1 Cor. 2:1-2).
Paul wanted the message that he preached to be a clear window to the gospel, and not a gaudy, rhetorical mural about the gospel. He wanted the Corinthians to be able to look through what he was saying, and did not want them to stare at what he was saying. In this, he is not rejecting rhetorical wisdom per se, but is actually articulating one of the fundamental principles of wise and judicious rhetoric.
He is saying here that he did not want some florid rhetorical display to get in the way of his listeners’ understanding of Jesus Christ, and Him crucified. We sometimes marvel at ingenious television commercials which are witty, sophisticated, and a lot of fun to watch—but which are utter failures because when you are done you can’t quite remember what product was being advertised. When that happens, the thing being advertised is actually the wit of the makers of the commercial. When “lengthy prayers in the synagogues” break out, it is because some preacher wants to be on display. When the sermon, like time in the Watts hymn, is “an ever-rolling stream,” and it “bears all the congregants away,” then that means that somebody is showboating.