Word, Spirit...Experienced Reality

"Our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction". (1 Thess 1:5)

The message of the gospel is truth accompanied by experienced reality. It did indeed come ‘in word,’ meaning in the form of proclaimed truth, as a message from God himself (see 2:4 and 13). But for this appeal the proof is in the eating. Thus it was not ‘in word alone.’ God verified its truthfulness by a display of his own power through the ministry of the Holy Spirit.


— Gordon Fee
God's Empowering Presence
(Grand Rapids, MI: Hendrickson, 1994)