1 Corinthians 1:22-2:5

English Standard Version

²² For ^(A)Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, ²³ but we preach Christ ^(B)crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, ²⁴ but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ ^(C)the power of God and ^(D)the wisdom of God. ²⁵ For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

²⁶ For consider your calling, brothers: ^(E)not many of you were wise according to worldly standards,^[a] not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. ²⁷ But ^(F)God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; ^(G)God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; ²⁸ God chose what is low and despised in the world, even ^(H)things that are not, to ^(I)bring to nothing things that are, ²⁹ so ^(J)that no human being^[b] might boast in the presence of God. ³⁰ And because of him^[c] you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us ^(K)wisdom from God, ^(L)righteousness and ^(M)sanctification and ^(N)redemption, ³¹ so that, as it is written, ^(O)“Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”

Proclaiming Christ Crucified

2 And I, when I came to you, brothers,^{[d] (P)}did not come proclaiming to you ^(Q)the testimony^[e] of God with lofty speech or wisdom. ² For I decided to know nothing among you except ^(R)Jesus Christ and him crucified. ³ And ^(S)I was with you ^(T)in weakness and in fear and much trembling, ⁴ and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of ^(U)the Spirit and of power, ⁵ so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men^[f] but ^(V)in the power of God.