gospel of God (cf. note on 1:5). His message originated with God, not himself. They were not timid but bold in … God, i.e. they spoke out without any internal restraint whatsoever. This style of preaching was characteristic of Paul (Acts 9:27; 13:46; 14:3) but not an easy one, as indicated by his request for prayer regarding wide open evangelism (Eph 6:20). So, contrary to the charge of being a self-serving, religious fraud, Paul proves just the opposite. His ministry did bear fruit in the lives