Book of Common Prayer

2 So, my brothers, when I came to you, I did not come to tell you God's message in big or wise words.

² I made up my mind that I would talk about only one thing while I was with you. That one thing was Jesus Christ and his death on a cross.

³ I was weak, afraid, and trembling when I visited you.

⁴ My words and my message were not in wise words to win you. But the power of the Spirit of God proved my words to be true.

⁵ I did this so that you would not believe because of man's wise words, but you would believe because of God's power.

⁶ However, our words are wise words to those who really believe. But they are not the kind of wise words that the people of this world speak. They are not the kind of wise words that the rulers of this world speak. Those rulers will die.

⁷ Our wise words are God's wise words about things people do not understand. Before God made the world he planned those things for our glory and blessing.

⁸ None of the rulers of this world knew about these things. If they had, they would not have killed on a cross the Lord who was full of God's glory.

⁹ The holy writings say, `No eye has seen the things God has made ready for those who love him. No ear has heard about them. No person's heart has ever thought of them.'

¹⁰ God has shown these things to us by his Spirit. The Spirit understands everything, even the things that God has kept secret.

¹¹ The only one who really knows what a person is thinking is the spirit of the person himself. So also, no one knows what God is thinking, only the Spirit of God.

¹² We have not received the spirit of the world. But we have received the Spirit of God. In this way we may understand the blessings which God has freely given to us.

¹³ We do not tell you these things in wise words which men taught us. But the Holy Spirit taught us. We teach things about the Spirit which we know about through the Spirit.

²¹ `He who knows the things I tell him to do and does them, really loves me. My Father will love him and I also will love him. I will show him who I am.'

²² Judas (not Iscariot) said to Jesus, `Lord, how are you going to make yourself real to us, and not to the rest of the world?'

²³ Jesus said to him, `If a person loves me, he will obey me. My Father also will love him. And we will come to him and will live with him.

²⁴ The person who does not love me does not obey me. The word which you hear is not my word. It is my Father's word. He is the one who sent me.

²⁵ `I have told you these things while I am still with you.

²⁶ But the Holy Spirit is the one who will help you. My Father will send him in my name. He will teach you everything that I have said to you. His Helper will remind you of all that I said.

²⁷ Peace is what I leave for you. I give you my own peace. People of the world also say, "Peace" to you. I do not say it as they say it. Do not let anything trouble your hearts. Do not fear.

²⁸ You heard me say, "I am going away and then I will come back to you." If you really loved me, then you would have been very glad that I am going to my Father. My Father is greater than I am.

²⁹ `I have told you this before it happens. Then when it does happen, you will believe.