Excerpts form Paul's first letter to the Corinthians.

Paul had established a church in the Greek city of Corinth on his second missionary journey (Acts 18:1-8), but things had gone badly after his departure.  Paul's major purpose in writing this letter was to correct these problems.

Paul's Reliance upon the Spirit:

1 Cor 2:1-16

1    And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God.
2    For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.
3    And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.
4    And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:
5    That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.
6    Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought:
7    But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:
8    Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
9    But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
10    But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
11    For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.
12    Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
13    Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
14    But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
15    But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.
16    For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.
(KJV)

The Wisdom of God:

1 Cor 1:17-31

17    For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.
18    For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
19    For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.
20    Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?
21    For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.
22    For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:
23    But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;
24    But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.
25    Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
26    For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:
27    But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;
28    And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:
29    That no flesh should glory in his presence.
30    But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:
31    That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.
(KJV)