²⁶ Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called.^(A) Not many of you were wise^(B) by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. ²⁷ But God chose^(C) the foolish^(D) 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^(E)—to nullify the things that are, ²⁹ so that no one may boast before him.^{(F) 30} It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus,^(G) who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness,^(H) holiness^(I) and redemption.^{(J) 31} Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.”^[a](K)

2 And so it was with me, brothers and sisters. When I came to you, I did not come with eloquence or human wisdom^(L) as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God.^{[b] 2} For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.^{(M) 3} I came to you^(N) in weakness^(O) with great fear and trembling.^{(P) 4} My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words,^(Q) but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power,^{(R) 5} so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power.^(S)

Children of God

²³ Before the coming of this faith,^[a] we were held in custody^(A) under the law, locked up until the faith that was to come would be revealed.^{(B) 24} So the law was our guardian until Christ came^(C) that we might be justified by faith.^{(D) 25} Now that this faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian.^(E)

²⁶ So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God^(F) through faith, ²⁷ for all of you who were baptized into Christ^(G) have clothed yourselves with Christ.^{(H) 28} There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free,^(I) nor is there male and female,^(J) for you are all one in Christ Jesus.^{(K) 29} If you belong to Christ,^(L) then you are Abraham’s seed,^(M) and heirs^(N) according to the promise.^(O)

4 What I am saying is that as long as an heir is underage, he is no different from a slave, although he owns the whole estate. ² The heir is subject to guardians and trustees until the time set by his father. ³ So also, when we were underage, we were in slavery^(P) under the elemental spiritual forces^[b] of the world.^{(Q) 4} But when the set time had fully come,^(R) God sent his Son,^(S) born of a woman,^(T) born under the law,^{(U) 5} to redeem^(V) those under the law, that we might receive adoption^(W) to sonship.^{[c](X) 6} Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son^(Y) into our hearts,^(Z) the Spirit who calls out, “Abba,^[d] Father.”^{(AA) 7} So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.^(AB)