For his letters, they say, are weighty and powerful, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech of no account.

For Christ did not send me to immerse, but to preach the gospel, not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect.

For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who are believing.

And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the Testimony of God.

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

by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ),

and consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you,

as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which the unlearned and unstable twist, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction.

But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor handling the Word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience before God.

Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; and we are well known to God, and I also hope are well known in your consciences.

Open your hearts to us. We have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, we have defrauded no one.

Truly the signs of an apostle were accomplished among you with all perseverance, in signs and wonders and mighty deeds.