John Calvin Commentary 1 Corinthians 2:1

"And I, brethren, when I came unto you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God." — 1 Corinthians 2:1 (ASV)

And I, when I came—Paul, having begun to speak of his own method of teaching, had immediately fallen into a discussion about the nature of gospel preaching generally. He now returns to speak of himself, to show that nothing in him was despised except what belonged to the nature of the gospel itself and, in a way, adhered to it.

He therefore admits that he did not possess any of the aids of human eloquence or wisdom that would qualify him to produce any effect. But while he acknowledges himself to be lacking such resources, he hints at the conclusion to be drawn from this: that the power of God shone all the more illustriously in his ministry, because it stood in no need of such assistance. This latter idea, however, he brings forward soon after.

For now, he simply grants that he has nothing of human wisdom, and in the meantime, he maintains this much: that he published the testimony of God.

Some interpreters, indeed, explain the testimony of God in a passive sense. But as for me, I have no doubt that another interpretation is more in accordance with the Apostle’s design, so that the testimony of God is that which has come forth from God—the doctrine of the gospel, of which God is the author and witness.

He now distinguishes between speech and wisdom (λόγον ἀπὸ τῆς σοφίας). Therefore, what I previously observed is confirmed here: that until now he has not been speaking of mere empty chatter, but has included all training in human learning.