not the outcome of what you have done ??lest anyone should pride himself on that;

God has made us what we are, creating us in Christ Jesus for the good deeds which are prepared beforehand by God as our sphere of action.

how the divine secret was disclosed to me by a revelation (if you read what I have already written briefly about this,

So I beg of you not to lose heart over what I am suffering on your behalf; my sufferings are an honour to you.

May you be so fixed and founded in love that you can grasp with all the saints what is the meaning of 'the Breadth,' 'the Length,' 'the Depth' and 'the Height,'

What does he ascended mean, except that he first descended to the nether regions of the earth?

verifying what pleases the Lord.

One is indeed ashamed even to speak about what such men do in secret;

So do not be senseless, but understand what is the Lord's will;