What Preachers Should Preach

I am studying 1 Corinthians 2. One of the commentaries I am using is Calvin's Commentary on 1 Corinthians. He has a couple of nice practical observations about 1 Corinthians 2:2 which reads,

For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.

Calvin translated the passage as follows:

No kind of knowledge was in my view of so much importance as to lead me to desire anything but Christ, crucified though he was.

Paul was mocking the Corinthians who were going after witty and powerful speakers, rather than the small, humble Paul, who spoke only of Jesus and the cross. Paul was saying Christ was not impressive either: He was killed like a criminal. Paul did not come with impressive, philosophical, powerful speeches, but rather Paul taught only Jesus. Powerful speeches are not what converted the Corinthians, but the power of God working through the preaching of the simple gospel by Paul. Calvin then pointed out the application for his readers. He encouraged preachers to preach only and learn only Jesus Christ and him crucified.

Here we have a beautiful passage, from which we learn what it is that faithful ministers ought to teach, what it is that we must, during our whole life, be learning, and in comparison with which everything else must be “counted as dung.” (Philippians 3:8.)