¹⁶ For I am not ashamed of the gospel,^(A) because it is the power of God^(B) that brings salvation to everyone who believes:^(C) first to the Jew,^(D) then to the Gentile.^(E)

Christ Crucified Is God’s Power and Wisdom

¹⁸ For the message of the cross is foolishness^(A) to those who are perishing,^(B) but to us who are being saved^(C) it is the power of God.^(D)

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.

²⁴ “He himself bore our sins”^(A) in his body on the cross,^(B) so that we might die to sins^(C) and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.”^(D)

²³ The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God^(A) gives it light,^(B) and the Lamb^(C) is its lamp. ²⁴ The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it.^(D)

² down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life,^(A) bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.^(B)