¹⁷ Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message,^(A) and the message is heard through the word about Christ.^(B)

¹² What we have received is not the spirit^(A) of the world,^(B) but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us. ¹³ This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom^(C) but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words.^{[a] 14} The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God^(D) but considers them foolishness,^(E) and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit. ¹⁵ The person with the Spirit^(F) makes judgments about all things, but such a person is not subject to merely human judgments, ¹⁶ for,

But we have the mind of Christ.^(H)

⁸ For it is by grace^(A) you have been saved,^(B) through faith^(C)—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—

²⁹ For it has been granted to you^(A) on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer^(B) for him,