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1 Corinthians 2:4

King James Version (KJV)

And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:

Translations

1 Corinthians 2:4 - Amplified Bible

And my language and my message were not set forth in persuasive (enticing and plausible) words of wisdom, but they were in demonstration of the [Holy] Spirit and power [a proof by the Spirit and power of God, operating on me and stirring in the minds of my hearers the most holy emotions and thus persuading them],

1 Corinthians 2:4 - American Standard Version

And my speech and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:

1 Corinthians 2:4 - Bible in Basic English

And in my preaching there were no honeyed words of wisdom, but I was dependent on the power of the Spirit to make it clear to you:

1 Corinthians 2:4 - Darby Bible

and my word and my preaching, not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of [the] Spirit and of power;

1 Corinthians 2:4 - English Standard Version

and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power,

1 Corinthians 2:4 - King James Version

And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:

1 Corinthians 2:4 - La Biblia de las Americas

Y ni mi mensaje ni mi predicaciòn fueron con palabras persuasivas de sabidurìa, sino con demostraciòn del Espìritu y de poder,

1 Corinthians 2:4 - The Message

1 Corinthians 2:4 - New American Standard Bible

and my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power,

1 Corinthians 2:4 - Nueva Biblia Latinoamericana de Hoy

y mi mensaje (mi palabra) y mi predicaciòn no fueron con palabras persuasivas de sabidurìa, sino con demostraciòn del Espìritu y de poder,

1 Corinthians 2:4 - World English Bible

My speech and my preaching were not in persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power,

1 Corinthians 2:4 - Young's Living Translation

and my word and my preaching was not in persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power --

1 Corinthians 2:4 - Additional Comments

The ancient Greek philosophers were known for their great debates. But the debates were the ends, some sort of a game. It wasn't the results, it was the process in the game that mattered to them. But Paul focused not on the method, but on the results. Otherwise he would have valued the persuasive words, the excellence of speech and wisdom (vs 1).
If their faith rested on the persuasiveness of Paul's words, they would easily be drawn away by someone else with seemingly more persuasive words of wisdom. But faith produced by the work of the Spirit is permanent.

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