philosophy

⁸See to it that no one deceives you through philosophy and empty falsehoods, as found in the traditions of men, in accord with the influences of the world, and not in accord with Christ.

¹Silver has its fissures where it is first found, and gold has a place where it is melted. ²Iron is taken from the earth, and ore, unbound by heat, is turned into brass. ³He has established a time for darkness, and he has settled on an end for all things, as well as for the stone that is in the gloom and shadow of death. ⁴The burning separates a pilgrim people from those who have been forgotten by the feet of the destitute man and from the unapproachable. ⁵The land, where bread appeared in its place, has been destroyed by fire. ⁶Its stones are embedded with sapphires, and its soil, with gold.

¹³And we are also speaking of these things, not in the learned words of human wisdom, but in the doctrine of the Spirit, bringing spiritual things together with spiritual things.

²⁰O Timothy, guard what has been deposited with you, avoiding the voice of profane novelties and of opposing ideas, which are falsely called knowledge.

⁹But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, as well as arguments against the law. For these are useless and empty. ¹⁰Avoid a man who is a heretic, after the first and second correction,

²¹For the world did not know God through wisdom, and so, in the wisdom of God, it pleased God to accomplish the salvation of believers, through the foolishness of our preaching.

¹And so, brothers, when I came to you, announcing to you the testimony of Christ, I did not bring exalted words or lofty wisdom. ²For I did not judge myself to know anything among you, except Jesus Christ, and him crucified. ³And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and with much trembling. ⁴And my words and preaching were not the persuasive words of human wisdom, but were a manifestation of the Spirit and of virtue, ⁵so that your faith would not be based on the wisdom of men, but on the virtue of God.

⁶Now, we do speak wisdom among the perfect, yet truly, this is not the wisdom of this age, nor that of the leaders of this age, which shall be reduced to nothing. ⁷Instead, we speak of the wisdom of God in a mystery which has been hidden, which God predestined before this age for our glory, ⁸something that none of the leaders of this world have known. For if they had known it, they would never have crucified the Lord of glory. ⁹But this is just as it has been written: “The eye has not seen, and the ear has not heard, nor has it entered into the heart of man, what things God has prepared for those who love him.” ¹⁰But God has revealed these things to us through his Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God.

¹⁸Now certain Epicurean and Stoic philosophers were arguing with him. And some were saying, “What does this sower of the Word want to say?” Yet others were saying, “He seems to be an announcer for new demons.” For he was announcing to them Jesus and the Resurrection.

²It is to the glory of God to conceal a word, and it is to the glory of kings to investigate speech.