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1 Corinthians 1:17-25
New King James Version
1 Corinthians 1:17-25
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.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 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 1:17-25
New International Version
1 Corinthians 1:17-25
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.
Footnotes
- 1 Corinthians 1:19 Isaiah 29:14
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.