“I was with you,” Paul continues, “in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: that your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought: but we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.” {TM 482.1}

»Og jeg kom til jer« fortsætter Paulus, »i svaghed og frygt og megen bæven, og min tale og mit budskab virkede ikke ved visdoms overtalende ord, men ved Ånds og krafts bevis, for at jeres tro ikke skulle bygge på menneskers visdom, men på Guds kraft. Dog, visdom taler vi blandt det fuldvoksne, men en visdom, der ikke stammer fra denne verden, ej heller fra denne verdens herskere, som mister deres magt. Nej, vi taler Guds visdom, den hemmelige, skjulte, som Gud før verdensløbets begyndelse har forudbestemt for at gøre os til herlighed. Den har ingen af denne verdens herskere kendt; thi hvis de havde kendt den, ville de ikke have korsfæstet herlighedens Herre.