Paul’s Message by the Spirit’s Power

1And I, when I came among you, brethren, came not with excellency of language, or of human wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God: 2for I did not think it meet to know any thing among you, but Jesus Christ, and Him crucified. 3And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. 4And my discourse, and my preaching was not with the persuasive words of human wisdom, but in the demonstration of the Spirit and of power; 5that your faith might not be in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.

Spiritual Wisdom
(Ephesians 1:15–23)

6Yet we speak true wisdom among the perfect: though not the wisdom of this world, nor of the rulers of this world, who come to nought. 7But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, that hidden wisdom which God ordained before the worlds for our glory: 8which none of the rulers of this age knew; for if they had known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

9But as it is written, "Eye hath not seen, and ear hath not heard, nor have entered into the heart of man, what things God hath prepared for those that love Him."

10But God hath revealed them to us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, even the deep things of God. 11For who among men knoweth the things of a man, but the spirit of a man which is in him? so also the things of God no one knoweth, but the Spirit of God. 12Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit of God; that we might know the things that are graciously bestowed upon us by God: 13which we also speak of, not in words dictated by human wisdom, but in those which are dictated by the holy Spirit; explaining spiritual things by spiritual words.

14But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. 15Whereas the spiritual man discerneth all things, yet is himself discerned by no one. 16For who hath known the mind of the Lord, to instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.