As he pondered these things in his heart, Paul understood more and more clearly the meaning of his call "to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God." 1 Corinthians 1:1. His call had come, "not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father." Galatians 1:1. The greatness of the work before him led him to give much study to the Holy Scriptures, in order that he might preach the gospel "not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect," "but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power," that the faith of all who heard "should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God." 1 Corinthians 1:17; 2:4, 5.

Mens Paulus overvejede disse ting i sit hjerte, forstod han mere og mere klart betydningen af at være "ved Guds vilje kaldet til at være Kristi Jesu apostel." 1Kor. 1,1. Han var "ikke udsendt af mennesker, ej heller ved noget menneske, men ved Jesus Kristus og Gud Fader." Gal. 1,1. Det vældige arbejde, som lå foran ham, førte ham til meget studium af den hellige skrift, for at han måtte kunne prædike evangeliet "ikke med visdom i tale, for at Kristi kors ikke skulle tabe sin kraft," "men ved Ånds og krafts bevis," "for at jeres tro ikke skulle bygge på menneskers visdom, men på Guds kraft." 1Kor. 1,17; 2,4-5.