Paul’s Message by the Spirit’s Power

1As for me, my brethren, when I appear'd among you, it was not to represent to you the divine mystery in sublime language, and with human literature. 2for I did not think I was to have any other knowledge among you, than that of Christ, a crucified saviour. 3I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in great agony: 4my discourse, and my preaching did not consist in the persuasive reasonings of human wisdom, but in demonstrating the spiritual meaning of the scriptures: 5that your faith might not be owing to human wisdom, but to the divine influence.

Spiritual Wisdom
(Ephesians 1:15–23)

6However, what we preach is wisdom, to those who are thoroughly instructed: yet not the wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who will soon come to nothing. 7but we explain that mysterious plan of divine wisdom, which God had contriv'd before the ages, for our glory: 8which none of the rulers of this age understood: for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

9but, as it is written, "eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entred into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him."

10this is what God has revealed to us by his spirit: for the spirit penetrates into all things, even the profound counsels of God. 11for who knows the thoughts of a man, but the spirit of man which is in him? even so the thoughts of God no one can know, but the spirit of God. 12now the spirit which we have received, is not the spirit of this world, but that which comes from God; that we might know what he has graciously bestowed upon us. 13this is what we declare, not in the words which human wisdom, but which the holy spirit dictates; explaining spiritual things in a spiritual language.

14but the animal man does not receive the effusions of the spirit of God; for they are foolishness to him; neither can he understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. 15but they are all expos'd to the judgment of the spiritual, whilst he himself is not subject to the judgment of any man. 16for how can he, that does not know the mind of the Lord, instruct another? but as for us, we are acquainted with the mind of the Lord.