What Does 1 Corinthians 2:4 Mean in the King James?
And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
The verse contrasts words that persuade with a message whose breath and power become visible in action.
THE MEANING
This verse presents speech whose force does not rest on how convincingly human wisdom can frame it. Its witness becomes visible through breath and power, so the words are more than persuasive language: their effect can be seen.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
It undoes the belief that a message is true only when its speaker can make it sound irresistible.
THE ROOT
ἀποδείξει
apodeixei
GROWS FROM
δεικ- (deik-; from δείκνυμι, deiknymi)
to show, point out, or make evident
“demonstration” in this verse is apodeixei. The Greek names an act of showing forth, so the claim is made evident rather than carried by persuasive style. The verse sets what can be seen in motion against words whose force depends on winning assent.
ALSO GROWS
deiknymi: to show or point out
δείκνυμι
This is the basic act beneath the demonstration: making something visible to another.
deigma: an example or specimen
δεῖγμα
A specimen shows what something is through its actual form, echoing the verse’s emphasis on evidence made visible.
πνεύματος
pneumatos
GROWS FROM
πνευ- (pneu-; from πνέω, pneō)
to breathe or blow
The Greek word spans breath, wind, and what English renders as Spirit, keeping these senses together in one word. Here, the demonstration is carried as living breath joined with power, not as an abstract label.
ALSO GROWS
pneuma: breath, wind, or spirit
πνεῦμα
These meanings belong to the same Greek word, revealing a unity that the English rendering can conceal.
pnoē: breath or a blowing
πνοή
This related word makes the breath sense audible within the verse’s reference to the Spirit.
πειθοῖς
peithois
GROWS FROM
πειθ- (peith-; from πείθω, peithō)
to persuade or win over
“enticing” in this verse is peithois. The Greek points to persuasiveness: the craft of winning someone over through words. That sharpens the contrast, the verse does not deny speech, but refuses to make persuasion its evidence.
ALSO GROWS
peithō: to persuade or win over
πείθω
This verb names the persuasive force behind the words the verse sets aside.
peistikos: persuasive or convincing
πειστικός
This related form shows how the root describes words that aim to convince.
THE PATTERN
A claim’s witness appears through what it brings into effect; persuasive speech alone cannot supply that witness.
When a prophet speaketh in the name of the LORD, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him.But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him.God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?THE THREAD
For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.The same Greek terms recur together: λόγος (logos, word), δύναμις (dynamis, power), and πνεῦμα (pneuma, breath). This makes the contrast concrete: speech is present, while its witness arrives through breath and power rather than verbal persuasion alone.
Read the SDV Bible.
Every verse has a Deep Dive in the app.
The iPhone Bible app with the Selah Decoded Version.
Does something in this reading look wrong? Tell us