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1 Corinthians 1:18-2:5
Christian Standard Bible

Christ the Power and Wisdom of God

18 For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but it is the power of God to us who are being saved.(A) 19 For it is written,

I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,
and I will set aside the intelligence of the intelligent.[a](B)

20 Where is the one who is wise? Where is the teacher of the law?[b] Where is the debater of this age?(C) Hasn’t God made the world’s wisdom foolish? 21 For since, in God’s wisdom, the world did not know God through wisdom, God was pleased to save those who believe through the foolishness of what is preached. 22 For the Jews ask for signs(D) and the Greeks seek wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified,(E) a stumbling block to the Jews and foolishness to the Gentiles.[c] 24 Yet to those who are called,(F) both Jews and Greeks, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God, 25 because God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God’s weakness is stronger than human strength.

Boasting Only in the Lord

26 Brothers and sisters, consider your calling: Not many were wise from a human perspective,[d] not many powerful,(G) not many of noble birth. 27 Instead, God has chosen(H) what is foolish in the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen what is weak in the world to shame the strong. 28 God has chosen what is insignificant and despised in the world(I)—what is viewed as nothing—to bring to nothing what is viewed as something, 29 so that no one[e] may boast in his presence.(J) 30 It is from him that you are in Christ Jesus, who became wisdom from God for us—our righteousness,(K) sanctification,(L) and redemption(M)— 31 in order that, as it is written:(N) Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.[f](O)

Paul’s Proclamation

2 When I came to you, brothers and sisters, announcing the mystery[g] of God to you, I did not come with brilliance(P) of speech(Q) or wisdom. 2 I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.(R) 3 I came to you in weakness,(S) in fear,(T) and in much trembling.(U) 4 My speech(V) and my preaching were not with persuasive(W) words of wisdom[h] but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, 5 so that your faith might not be based on human wisdom but on God’s power.(X)

Footnotes

  1. 1:19 Is 29:14
  2. 1:20 Or scholar
  3. 1:23 Other mss read Greeks
  4. 1:26 Lit wise according to the flesh
  5. 1:29 Lit that not all flesh
  6. 1:31 Jr 9:24
  7. 2:1 Other mss read testimony
  8. 2:4 Other mss read human wisdom
Listen to 1 Corinthians 1:18-2:5
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1 Corinthians 1:18-2:5
New International Version

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) 19 For it is written:

“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise;
    the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”[a](E)

20 Where is the wise person?(F) Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age?(G) Has not God made foolish(H) the wisdom of the world? 21 For since in the wisdom of God the world(I) through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save(J) those who believe.(K) 22 Jews demand signs(L) and Greeks look for wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified:(M) a stumbling block(N) to Jews and foolishness(O) to Gentiles, 24 but to those whom God has called,(P) both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God(Q) and the wisdom of God.(R) 25 For the foolishness(S) of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness(T) of God is stronger than human strength.

26 Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called.(U) Not many of you were wise(V) by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose(W) the foolish(X) 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(Y)—to nullify the things that are, 29 so that no one may boast before him.(Z) 30 It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus,(AA) who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness,(AB) holiness(AC) and redemption.(AD) 31 Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.”[b](AE)

2 And so it was with me, brothers and sisters. When I came to you, I did not come with eloquence or human wisdom(AF) 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.(AG) 3 I came to you(AH) in weakness(AI) with great fear and trembling.(AJ) 4 My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words,(AK) but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power,(AL) 5 so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power.(AM)

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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