By the Foolishness of Preaching

I Corinthians 1:17-25

"For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.

For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.

For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.
Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men." (I Corinthians 1:17-25)

When Paul says that Christ has sent him to preach the gospel, he uses the word usually translated to evangelise. The actual meaning is to announce the gospel. You cannot announce something that is already known. It is the same word used in Acts 8:35, when Philip preached to the Ethiopian eunuch.

In verse 18, Paul says that the preaching of the cross is foolishnes to those who perish. The word used here is logos, or word, referring to what is preached. To the unbelieving, the idea that one's sin can be forgiven, and a new life recieved simply by trusting Christ seems foolish. I wonder how many have said "it can't be that simple." As a result, those who want intellectual assurance usually reject the message. Those who believe have seen that it is the power of God, not their own effort, that saved them. When someone does something for you, your part is very simple. You just allow them to do it. That in no way implies it was simple for them, only for you.

The Jews, and many today are looking for som miraculous sign to prove the message, while the Greeks look for natural physical action they can take to produce the result, whether by giving money or physical service. The Jews got hung up on the lack of a sign, while the Greeks reject it as not logical, but God has chosen to use preaching to save those who believe.

The words translated preaching in verses 21 and 23 are forms of a word meaning herald, or proclaim. Unfortunately some have taken that to mean to shout loudly, never realizing that there were specific guidelines for heralds. A herald was an official messenger. He might deliver a public announcement, or a secret message. His life was to be forfeit if he garbled the message. Changing so much as a single word, if it caused confusion, was punishable by death. Preaching thus is not a style of speaking, but an emphasis on accurately conveying the Word of God.
Introducing our own logic makes the word of God of none effect.