²⁶ For ^[a]consider your ^(A)calling, brothers and sisters, that there were ^(B)not many wise according to ^[b]the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; ²⁷ but ^(C)God has chosen the foolish things of ^(D)the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of ^(E)the world to shame the things which are strong, ²⁸ and the ^[c]insignificant things of ^(F)the world and the despised God has chosen, ^(G)the things that are not, so that He may ^(H)nullify the things that are, ²⁹ so that ^(I)no ^[d]human may boast before God. ³⁰ But it is ^[e]due to Him that you are in ^(J)Christ Jesus, who became to us ^(K)wisdom from God, ^[f]and ^(L)righteousness and ^(M)sanctification, and ^(N)redemption, ³¹ so that, just as it is written: “^(O)Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”

Paul’s Reliance upon the Spirit

2 And when I came to you, brothers and sisters, I ^(P)did not come as someone superior in ^[g]speaking ability or ^[h]wisdom, as I proclaimed to you ^(Q)the ^[i]testimony of God. ² For I determined to know nothing among you except ^(R)Jesus Christ, and Him crucified. ³ I also was with you in ^(S)weakness and ^(T)fear, and in great trembling, ⁴ and my ^[j]message and my preaching were ^(U)not in persuasive words of ^[k]wisdom, but in demonstration of ^(V)the Spirit and of power, ⁵ so that your faith would not ^[l]rest on the ^[m]wisdom of mankind, but on ^(W)the power of God.