1 A s for myself, brethren, when I came to you, I did not come proclaiming to you the testimony and evidence or mystery and secret of God in lofty words of eloquence or human philosophy and wisdom;

And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God.

2 F or I resolved to know nothing (to be acquainted with nothing, to make a display of the knowledge of nothing, and to be conscious of nothing) among you except Jesus Christ (the Messiah) and Him crucified.

For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.

3 A nd I was in ( passed into a state of) weakness and fear (dread) and great trembling '> after I had come] among you.

And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.

4 A nd my language and my message were not set forth in persuasive (enticing and plausible) words of wisdom, but they were in demonstration of the Spirit and power '> a proof by the Spirit and power of God, operating on me and stirring in the minds of my hearers the most holy emotions and thus persuading them],

And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:

5 S o that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men (human philosophy), but in the power of God.

That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.

6 Y et when we are among the full-grown (spiritually mature Christians who are ripe in understanding), we do impart a wisdom (the knowledge of the divine plan previously hidden); but it is indeed not a wisdom of this present age or of this world nor of the leaders and rulers of this age, who are being brought to nothing and are doomed to pass away.

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:

7 B ut rather what we are setting forth is a wisdom of God once hidden and now revealed to us by God— which God devised and decreed before the ages for our glorification.

But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:

8 N one of the rulers of this age or world perceived and recognized and understood this, for if they had, they would never have crucified the Lord of glory.

Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

9 B ut, on the contrary, as the Scripture says, What eye has not seen and ear has not heard and has not entered into the heart of man, God has prepared (made and keeps ready) for those who love Him '> who hold Him in affectionate reverence, promptly obeying Him and gratefully recognizing the benefits He has bestowed].

But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

10 Y et to us God has unveiled and revealed them by and through His Spirit, for the Spirit searches diligently, exploring and examining everything, even sounding the profound and bottomless things of God '> divine counsels and things hidden and beyond man’s scrutiny].

But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.

11 F or what person perceives (knows and understands) what passes through a man’s thoughts except the man’s own spirit within him? Just so no one discerns (comes to know and comprehend) the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.

For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.

12 N ow we have not received the spirit the world, but the Spirit Who is from God, that we might realize and comprehend and appreciate the gifts bestowed on us by God.

Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.

13 A nd we are setting these truths forth in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, combining and interpreting spiritual truths with spiritual language.

Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

14 B ut the natural, nonspiritual man does not accept or welcome or admit into his heart the gifts and teachings and revelations of the Spirit of God, for they are folly (meaningless nonsense) to him; and he is incapable of knowing them because they are spiritually discerned and estimated and appreciated.

But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

15 B ut the spiritual man tries all things '> examines, investigates, inquires into, questions, and discerns all things], yet is himself to be put on trial and judged by no one.

But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.

16 F or who has known or understood the mind (the counsels and purposes) of the Lord so as to guide and instruct Him and give Him knowledge? But we have the mind of Christ (the Messiah) and do hold the thoughts (feelings and purposes) of His heart.

For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? but we have the mind of Christ.