And that’s how it was with me, brothers and sisters. When I came to you, I didn’t use fancy words or human wisdom to preach the truth to you about God’s love.
Christ didn’t send me to baptize; he sent me to preach the good news. But I wasn’t supposed to try to persuade you with fancy words, because that would take all the power away from the cross of Christ.
That’s what we speak about, and we don’t use words that we’ve learned from human wisdom. We use words that the Holy Spirit has taught us, and we use them to explain spiritual truths.
So don’t be ashamed of the message about our Lord, and don’t be ashamed of me, his prisoner. Instead, join with me as I suffer for the good news. God’s power will help us do that.
because people like that are serving their own appetites, not our Lord Jesus Christ. With smooth talk and flattery they fool people who don’t know any better.
All these things will happen when he comes to be glorified in his holy people. Everyone who has believed will be amazed when they see him. This includes you, because you have believed our testimony to you.
I saw the Lord speaking to me. ‘Quick!’ he said. ‘Leave Jerusalem right now, because the people here aren’t going to accept what you tell them about me.’
When I heard this, I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, “Don’t do that! I’m God’s servant, just like you and your brothers and sisters who hold firmly to what Jesus taught. Worship God! The Spirit of prophecy tells the truth about Jesus.”
I, John, am your brother and your partner in the suffering, the kingdom, and the patient endurance of Jesus. I was on the island of Patmos because of God’s word and the testimony of Jesus.
God is able to strengthen you through the good news, which is the message I preach about Jesus Christ. There was a mystery that had been kept hidden for a very long time.
No, we share God’s wisdom, which is a mystery that has been hidden until now. But before time began, God planned that this wisdom would bring us heavenly glory.