PAUL’S PROCLAMATION

2 When I came to you, brothers and sisters, announcing the mysteryB of God to you, I did not come with brilliancec of speechd or wisdom. 2 I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.e 3 I came to you in weakness,f in fear,g and in much trembling.h 4 My speechi and my preaching were not with persuasivej words of wisdomC but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, 5 so that your faith might not be based on human wisdom but on God’s power.k

SPIRITUAL WISDOM

6 We do, however, speak a wisdom among the mature,l but not a wisdom of this age, or of the rulersm of this age, who are coming to nothing.n 7 On the contrary, we speak God’s hidden wisdom in a mystery, a wisdom God predestinedo before the ages for our glory.p 8 None of the rulers of this age knew this wisdom, because if they had known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.q