The Wisdom of God

¹⁸ For the word of the cross is ^(A)foolishness to ^(B)those who ^[a]are perishing, but to us who ^[b]are being saved it is ^(C)the power of God. ¹⁹ For it is written:

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

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

Paul’s Reliance upon the Spirit

2 And when I came to you, brothers and sisters, I ^(A)did not come as someone superior in ^[a]speaking ability or ^[b]wisdom, as I proclaimed to you ^(B)the ^[c]testimony of God. ² For I determined to know nothing among you except ^(C)Jesus Christ, and Him crucified. ³ I also was with you in ^(D)weakness and ^(E)fear, and in great trembling, ⁴ and my ^[d]message and my preaching were ^(F)not in persuasive words of ^[e]wisdom, but in demonstration of ^(G)the Spirit and of power, ⁵ so that your faith would not ^[f]rest on the ^[g]wisdom of mankind, but on ^(H)the power of God.

⁶ Yet we do speak wisdom among those who are ^(I)mature; a wisdom, however, not of ^(J)this age nor of the rulers of ^(K)this age, who are ^(L)passing away; ⁷ but we speak God’s wisdom in a ^(M)mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ^(N)predestined before the ^(O)ages to our glory; ⁸ the wisdom ^(P)which none of the rulers of ^(Q)this age has understood; for if they had understood it, they would not have crucified ^(R)the Lord of glory; ⁹ but just as it is written:

^10 [h](T)For to us God revealed them ^(U)through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the ^(V)depths of God. ¹¹ For who among people knows the thoughts of a person except the ^(W)spirit of the person that is in him? So also the thoughts of God no one knows, except the Spirit of God. ¹² Now we ^(X)have not received the spirit of ^(Y)the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God. ¹³ We also speak these things, ^(Z)not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, ^[i]combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words.

¹⁴ But ^[j]a ^(AA)natural person ^(AB)does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are ^(AC)foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. ¹⁵ But the one who is ^(AD)spiritual discerns all things, yet he himself is ^[k]discerned by no one. ¹⁶ For ^(AE)who has known the mind of the Lord, that he will instruct Him? But ^(AF)we have the mind of Christ.