1 Corinthians 1:18-2:5 New American Standard Bible
The Wisdom of God
18 For the word of the cross is (A)foolishness to (B)those who [a]are perishing, but to us who [b]are being saved it is (C)the power of God. 19 For it is written:
“(D)I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,
And the understanding of those who have understanding, I will confound.”
20 (E)Where is the wise person? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of (F)this age? Has God not (G)made foolish the wisdom of (H)the world? 21 For since in the wisdom of God (I)the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, (J)God [c]was pleased through the (K)foolishness of the [d]message preached to (L)save those who believe. 22 For indeed (M)Jews ask for [e]signs and Greeks search for wisdom; 23 but we preach [f](N)Christ crucified, (O)to Jews a stumbling block, and to Gentiles (P)foolishness, 24 but to those who are (Q)the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ (R)the power of God and (S)the wisdom of God. 25 For the (T)foolishness of God is wiser than mankind, and (U)the weakness of God is stronger than mankind.
26 For [g]consider your (V)calling, brothers and sisters, that there were (W)not many wise according to [h]the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; 27 but (X)God has chosen the foolish things of (Y)the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of (Z)the world to shame the things which are strong, 28 and the [i]insignificant things of (AA)the world and the despised God has chosen, (AB)the things that are not, so that He may (AC)nullify the things that are, 29 so that (AD)no [j]human may boast before God. 30 But it is [k]due to Him that you are in (AE)Christ Jesus, who became to us (AF)wisdom from God, [l]and (AG)righteousness and (AH)sanctification, and (AI)redemption, 31 so that, just as it is written: “(AJ)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 (AK)did not come as someone superior in [m]speaking ability or [n]wisdom, as I proclaimed to you (AL)the [o]testimony of God. 2 For I determined to know nothing among you except (AM)Jesus Christ, and Him crucified. 3 I also was with you in (AN)weakness and (AO)fear, and in great trembling, 4 and my [p]message and my preaching were (AP)not in persuasive words of [q]wisdom, but in demonstration of (AQ)the Spirit and of power, 5 so that your faith would not [r]rest on the [s]wisdom of mankind, but on (AR)the power of God.
Footnotes
- 1 Corinthians 1:18 Or perish
- 1 Corinthians 1:18 Or are saved
- 1 Corinthians 1:21 Or resolved
- 1 Corinthians 1:21 Lit preaching
- 1 Corinthians 1:22 Or confirming miracles
- 1 Corinthians 1:23 I.e., the Messiah
- 1 Corinthians 1:26 Lit see
- 1 Corinthians 1:26 I.e., human standards
- 1 Corinthians 1:28 Or lowly
- 1 Corinthians 1:29 Lit flesh
- 1 Corinthians 1:30 Lit from Him
- 1 Corinthians 1:30 Or both
- 1 Corinthians 2:1 Lit speech
- 1 Corinthians 2:1 Or cleverness
- 1 Corinthians 2:1 One early ms mystery
- 1 Corinthians 2:4 Lit word
- 1 Corinthians 2:4 Or cleverness
- 1 Corinthians 2:5 Lit be
- 1 Corinthians 2:5 Or cleverness
Cross references
- 1 Corinthians 1:18 : 1 Cor 1:21, 23, 25; 2:14; 4:10
- 1 Corinthians 1:18 : Acts 2:47; 2 Cor 2:15; 4:3; 2 Thess 2:10
- 1 Corinthians 1:18 : Rom 1:16; 1 Cor 1:24
- 1 Corinthians 1:19 : Is 29:14
- 1 Corinthians 1:20 : Job 12:17; Is 19:11f; 33:18
- 1 Corinthians 1:20 : Matt 13:22; 1 Cor 2:6, 8; 3:18, 19
- 1 Corinthians 1:20 : Rom 1:20ff
- 1 Corinthians 1:20 : John 12:31; 1 Cor 1:27f; 6:2; 11:32; James 4:4
- 1 Corinthians 1:21 : John 12:31; 1 Cor 1:27f; 6:2; 11:32; James 4:4
- 1 Corinthians 1:21 : Luke 12:32; Gal 1:15; Col 1:19
- 1 Corinthians 1:21 : 1 Cor 1:18, 23, 25; 2:14; 4:10
- 1 Corinthians 1:21 : Rom 11:14; James 5:20
- 1 Corinthians 1:22 : Matt 12:38
- 1 Corinthians 1:23 : 1 Cor 2:2; Gal 3:1; 5:11
- 1 Corinthians 1:23 : Luke 2:34; 1 Pet 2:8
- 1 Corinthians 1:23 : 1 Cor 1:18, 21, 25; 2:14; 4:10
- 1 Corinthians 1:24 : Rom 8:28
- 1 Corinthians 1:24 : Rom 1:16; 1 Cor 1:18
- 1 Corinthians 1:24 : Luke 11:49; 1 Cor 1:30
- 1 Corinthians 1:25 : 1 Cor 1:18, 21, 23; 2:14; 4:10
- 1 Corinthians 1:25 : 2 Cor 13:4
- 1 Corinthians 1:26 : Rom 11:29
- 1 Corinthians 1:26 : Matt 11:25; 1 Cor 1:20; 2:8
- 1 Corinthians 1:27 : James 2:5
- 1 Corinthians 1:27 : 1 Cor 1:20
- 1 Corinthians 1:27 : 1 Cor 1:20
- 1 Corinthians 1:28 : 1 Cor 1:20
- 1 Corinthians 1:28 : Rom 4:17
- 1 Corinthians 1:28 : Job 34:19; 1 Cor 2:6; 2 Thess 2:8; Heb 2:14
- 1 Corinthians 1:29 : Eph 2:9
- 1 Corinthians 1:30 : Rom 8:1; 1 Cor 4:15
- 1 Corinthians 1:30 : 1 Cor 1:24
- 1 Corinthians 1:30 : Jer 23:5f; 33:16; 2 Cor 5:21; Phil 3:9
- 1 Corinthians 1:30 : 1 Cor 1:2; 6:11; 1 Thess 5:23
- 1 Corinthians 1:30 : Rom 3:24; Eph 1:7, 14; Col 1:14
- 1 Corinthians 1:31 : Jer 9:23f; 2 Cor 10:17
- 1 Corinthians 2:1 : 1 Cor 1:17; 2:4, 13
- 1 Corinthians 2:1 : 1 Cor 2:7
- 1 Corinthians 2:2 : 1 Cor 1:23; Gal 6:14
- 1 Corinthians 2:3 : 1 Cor 4:10; 2 Cor 11:30; 12:5, 9f; 13:9
- 1 Corinthians 2:3 : Is 19:16; 2 Cor 7:15; Eph 6:5
- 1 Corinthians 2:4 : 1 Cor 1:17; 2:1, 13
- 1 Corinthians 2:4 : Rom 15:19; 1 Cor 4:20
- 1 Corinthians 2:5 : 2 Cor 4:7; 6:7; 12:9
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