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1 Corinthians 1:17-2:8
New King James Version
1 Corinthians 1:17-2:8
New King James Version
17 For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, (A)not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect.
Christ the Power and Wisdom of God(B)
18 For the [a]message of the cross is (C)foolishness to (D)those who are perishing, but to us (E)who are being saved it is the (F)power of God. 19 For it is written:
(G)“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,
And bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.”
20 (H)Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the [b]disputer of this age? (I)Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? 21 For since, in the (J)wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. 22 For (K)Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; 23 but we preach Christ crucified, (L)to the Jews a [c]stumbling block and to the [d]Greeks (M)foolishness, 24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ (N)the power of God and (O)the wisdom of God. 25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
Glory Only in the Lord
26 For [e]you see your calling, brethren, (P)that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many [f]noble, are called. 27 But (Q)God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; 28 and the [g]base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, 29 that no flesh should glory in His presence. 30 But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and (R)righteousness and sanctification and redemption— 31 that, as it is written, (S)“He who glories, let him glory in the Lord.”
Christ Crucified
2 And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the [h]testimony of God. 2 For I determined not to know anything among you (T)except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. 3 (U)I was with you (V)in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. 4 And my speech and my preaching (W)were not with persuasive words of [i]human wisdom, (X)but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5 that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the (Y)power of God.
Spiritual Wisdom
6 However, we speak wisdom among those who are mature, yet not the wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. 7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God [j]ordained before the ages for our glory, 8 which none of the rulers of this age knew; for (Z)had they known, they would not have (AA)crucified the Lord of glory.
Footnotes
- 1 Corinthians 1:18 Lit. word
- 1 Corinthians 1:20 debater
- 1 Corinthians 1:23 Gr. skandalon, offense
- 1 Corinthians 1:23 NU Gentiles
- 1 Corinthians 1:26 consider
- 1 Corinthians 1:26 well-born
- 1 Corinthians 1:28 insignificant or lowly
- 1 Corinthians 2:1 NU mystery
- 1 Corinthians 2:4 NU omits human
- 1 Corinthians 2:7 predetermined
1 Corinthians 1:17-2:8
New International Version
1 Corinthians 1:17-2:8
New International Version
17 For Christ did not send me to baptize,(A) but to preach the gospel—not with wisdom(B) and eloquence, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.
Christ Crucified Is God’s Power and Wisdom
18 For the message of the cross is foolishness(C) to those who are perishing,(D) but to us who are being saved(E) it is the power of God.(F) 19 For it is written:
“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise;
the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”[a](G)
20 Where is the wise person?(H) Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age?(I) Has not God made foolish(J) the wisdom of the world? 21 For since in the wisdom of God the world(K) through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save(L) those who believe.(M) 22 Jews demand signs(N) and Greeks look for wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified:(O) a stumbling block(P) to Jews and foolishness(Q) to Gentiles, 24 but to those whom God has called,(R) both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God(S) and the wisdom of God.(T) 25 For the foolishness(U) of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness(V) of God is stronger than human strength.
26 Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called.(W) Not many of you were wise(X) by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose(Y) the foolish(Z) 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(AA)—to nullify the things that are, 29 so that no one may boast before him.(AB) 30 It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus,(AC) who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness,(AD) holiness(AE) and redemption.(AF) 31 Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.”[b](AG)
2 And so it was with me, brothers and sisters. When I came to you, I did not come with eloquence or human wisdom(AH) as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God.[c] 2 For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.(AI) 3 I came to you(AJ) in weakness(AK) with great fear and trembling.(AL) 4 My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words,(AM) but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power,(AN) 5 so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power.(AO)
God’s Wisdom Revealed by the Spirit
6 We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature,(AP) but not the wisdom of this age(AQ) or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing.(AR) 7 No, we declare God’s wisdom, a mystery(AS) that has been hidden(AT) and that God destined for our glory before time began. 8 None of the rulers of this age(AU) understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.(AV)
Footnotes
- 1 Corinthians 1:19 Isaiah 29:14
- 1 Corinthians 1:31 Jer. 9:24
- 1 Corinthians 2:1 Some manuscripts proclaimed to you God’s mystery
New King James Version (NKJV) 
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.