⁶ I may indeed be untrained as a speaker,^(A) but I do have knowledge.^(B) We have made this perfectly clear to you in every way.

⁴ In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight^(A) into the mystery of Christ,

¹⁷ For Christ did not send me to baptize,^(A) but to preach the gospel—not with wisdom^(B) and eloquence, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.

² Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways;^(A) we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God.^(B) On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience^(C) in the sight of God.

¹² I persevered in demonstrating among you the marks of a true apostle, including signs, wonders and miracles.^(A)

The Ministry of Reconciliation

¹¹ Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord,^(A) we try to persuade others. What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your conscience.^(B)

¹⁵ Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience^(A) means salvation,^(B) just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him.^{(C) 16} He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable^(D) people distort,^(E) as they do the other Scriptures,^(F) to their own destruction.

¹⁰ For some say, “His letters are weighty and forceful, but in person he is unimpressive^(A) and his speaking amounts to nothing.”^(B)

Paul’s Joy Over the Church’s Repentance

² Make room for us in your hearts.^(A) We have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, we have exploited no one.

¹³ This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom^(A) but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words.^[a]