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)

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] For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.(AI) I came to you(AJ) in weakness(AK) with great fear and trembling.(AL) My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words,(AM) but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power,(AN) so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power.(AO)

God’s Wisdom Revealed by the Spirit

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) No, we declare God’s wisdom, a mystery(AS) that has been hidden(AT) and that God destined for our glory before time began. 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. 1 Corinthians 1:19 Isaiah 29:14
  2. 1 Corinthians 1:31 Jer. 9:24
  3. 1 Corinthians 2:1 Some manuscripts proclaimed to you God’s mystery

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