1 Corinthians 2:4

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

'speech and my preaching' -'message and my preaching' (NASV). Content and method of presentation.

'persuasive words of wisdom' -now Paul did seek to persuade men. (Acts 17:2; 2 Corinthians 5:11) And many of his sermons were persuasive. (Acts 24:25; Acts 26:28)

'But his preaching did not thereby lack "persuasion". What it lacked was the kind of persuasion found among the sophists and rhetoricians, where the power lay in the person and his delivery.' [Note:. Fee p. 94]

'In either case Paul is stating that his preaching does not derive its power to convince from the rhetorical art of human wisdom...he is forbidding the making of the presentation of the message more important than its content.' (Willis pp. 62-63)

'Corinth put. premium on the veneer of false rhetoric and thin thinking.' (Robertson p. 83)

'demonstration' -585. apodeixis ap-od'-ike-sis; from 584; manifestation: -demonstration. 'Lit.,. showing forth' (Vincent p. 195) 'The word he uses is the word for the most stringent possible proof, the kind of proof against which there can be no argument.' (Barclay p. 27) 'A word suggesting more than simply "manifestation", something akin to "evidence" or "proof"...In Greek rhetoric it was. technical term for. compelling conclusion drawn from the premises..Paul thus turns this word on its head, arguing that the "proof" lies not in compelling rhetoric, but in the accompanying VISIBLE..of the Spirit's power.' (Fee p. 95)

'of the Spirit and of power' -probably refers to the miracles that accompanied Paul's preaching. (2 Corinthians 12:12; Mark 16:17; Hebrews 2:3. 'The miracles were absolute, indisputable proofs of the veracity of the gospel message.' (Willis p. 63)