2 And so it was with me, brothers and sisters. When I came to you, I did not come with eloquence or human wisdom^(A) as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God.^[a]

The Nature of True Apostleship

4 This, then, is how you ought to regard us: as servants^(A) of Christ and as those entrusted^(B) with the mysteries^(C) God has revealed.

⁹ he^[a] made known to us the mystery^(A) of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed^(B) in Christ,

³ that is, the mystery^(A) made known to me by revelation,^(B) as I have already written briefly. ⁴ In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight^(C) into the mystery of Christ, ⁵ which was not made known to people in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets.^(D)

³² This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church.

¹⁹ Pray also for me,^(A) that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly^(B) make known the mystery^(C) of the gospel,