20 Where is the wise person?(A) Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age?(B) Has not God made foolish(C) the wisdom of the world? 21 For since in the wisdom of God the world(D) through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save(E) those who believe.(F) 22 Jews demand signs(G) and Greeks look for wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified:(H) a stumbling block(I) to Jews and foolishness(J) to Gentiles, 24 but to those whom God has called,(K) both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God(L) and the wisdom of God.(M) 25 For the foolishness(N) of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness(O) of God is stronger than human strength.

26 Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called.(P) Not many of you were wise(Q) by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose(R) the foolish(S) things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 28 God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not(T)—to nullify the things that are, 29 so that no one may boast before him.(U) 30 It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus,(V) who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness,(W) holiness(X) and redemption.(Y) 31 Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.”[a](Z)

And so it was with me, brothers and sisters. When I came to you, I did not come with eloquence or human wisdom(AA) as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God.[b] For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.(AB) I came to you(AC) in weakness(AD) with great fear and trembling.(AE) My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words,(AF) but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power,(AG) so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power.(AH)

God’s Wisdom Revealed by the Spirit

We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature,(AI) but not the wisdom of this age(AJ) or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing.(AK) No, we declare God’s wisdom, a mystery(AL) that has been hidden(AM) and that God destined for our glory before time began. None of the rulers of this age(AN) understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.(AO) However, as it is written:

“What no eye has seen,
    what no ear has heard,
and what no human mind has conceived”[c]
    the things God has prepared for those who love him—(AP)

10 these are the things God has revealed(AQ) to us by his Spirit.(AR)

The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. 11 For who knows a person’s thoughts(AS) except their own spirit(AT) within them? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.

20 (A)Where is the wise person? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of (B)this age? Has God not (C)made foolish the wisdom of (D)the world? 21 For since in the wisdom of God (E)the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, (F)God [a]was pleased through the (G)foolishness of the [b]message preached to (H)save those who believe. 22 For indeed (I)Jews ask for [c]signs and Greeks search for wisdom; 23 but we preach [d](J)Christ crucified, (K)to Jews a stumbling block, and to Gentiles (L)foolishness, 24 but to those who are (M)the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ (N)the power of God and (O)the wisdom of God. 25 For the (P)foolishness of God is wiser than mankind, and (Q)the weakness of God is stronger than mankind.

26 For [e]consider your (R)calling, brothers and sisters, that there were (S)not many wise according to [f]the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; 27 but (T)God has chosen the foolish things of (U)the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of (V)the world to shame the things which are strong, 28 and the [g]insignificant things of (W)the world and the despised God has chosen, (X)the things that are not, so that He may (Y)nullify the things that are, 29 so that (Z)no [h]human may boast before God. 30 But it is [i]due to Him that you are in (AA)Christ Jesus, who became to us (AB)wisdom from God, [j]and (AC)righteousness and (AD)sanctification, and (AE)redemption, 31 so that, just as it is written: “(AF)Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”

Paul’s Reliance upon the Spirit

And when I came to you, brothers and sisters, I (AG)did not come as someone superior in [k]speaking ability or [l]wisdom, as I proclaimed to you (AH)the [m]testimony of God. For I determined to know nothing among you except (AI)Jesus Christ, and Him crucified. I also was with you in (AJ)weakness and (AK)fear, and in great trembling, and my [n]message and my preaching were (AL)not in persuasive words of [o]wisdom, but in demonstration of (AM)the Spirit and of power, so that your faith would not [p]rest on the [q]wisdom of mankind, but on (AN)the power of God.

Yet we do speak wisdom among those who are (AO)mature; a wisdom, however, not of (AP)this age nor of the rulers of (AQ)this age, who are (AR)passing away; but we speak God’s wisdom in a (AS)mystery, the hidden wisdom which God (AT)predestined before the (AU)ages to our glory; the wisdom (AV)which none of the rulers of (AW)this age has understood; for if they had understood it, they would not have crucified (AX)the Lord of glory; but just as it is written:

(AY)Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard,
And which have not entered the human heart,
All that God has prepared for those who love Him.”

10 [r](AZ)For to us God revealed them (BA)through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the (BB)depths of God. 11 For who among people knows the thoughts of a person except the (BC)spirit of the person that is in him? So also the thoughts of God no one knows, except the Spirit of God.