Paul’s Message by the Spirit’s Power

1And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God; 2for I determined not to know anything among you, except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified. 3And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. 4And my speech and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power; 5that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.

Spiritual Wisdom
(Ephesians 1:15–23)

6But we speak wisdom among the perfect; yet a wisdom not of this world, nor of the rulers of this world, who are coming to nought; 7but we speak God's wisdom in a mystery?the hidden wisdom?which God predestined before the ages for our glory; 8which no one of the rulers of this age has known; for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory;

9but, as it has been written, "Things which eye saw not, and ear heard not, and that entered not into the heart of man?whatsoever things God prepared for those who love Him";

10but to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searcheth all things ?even the deep things of God. 11For who of men knows the things of a man, except the spirit of the man that is in him? even so the things of God no one has known, except the Spirit of God. 12And we received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit Who is of God; that we may know the things freely given us by God. 13Which things also we speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit; combining spiritual things with spiritual.

14But a natural man receives not the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot know them, because they are spiritually judged. 15But he that is spiritual judges all things; but he himself is judged by no one. 16For who knew the mind of the Lord, that he should instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ.