Christ the Power and Wisdom of God^(A)

¹⁸ For the ^[a]message of the cross is ^(B)foolishness to ^(C)those who are perishing, but to us ^(D)who are being saved it is the ^(E)power of God. ¹⁹ For it is written:

^20 (G)Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the ^[b]disputer of this age? ^(H)Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? ²¹ For since, in the ^(I)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 ^(J)Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; ²³ but we preach Christ crucified, ^(K)to the Jews a ^[c]stumbling block and to the ^[d]Greeks ^(L)foolishness, ²⁴ but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ ^(M)the power of God and ^(N)the wisdom of God. ²⁵ Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

Glory Only in the Lord

²⁶ For ^[e]you see your calling, brethren, ^(O)that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many ^[f]noble, are called. ²⁷ But ^(P)God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; ²⁸ and the ^[g]base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, ²⁹ that no flesh should glory in His presence. ³⁰ But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and ^(Q)righteousness and sanctification and redemption— ³¹ that, as it is written, ^(R)“He who glories, let him glory in the Lord.”

God’s Supreme Revelation^(A)

1 God, who ^[a]at various times and ^(B)in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, ² has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the ^[b]worlds; ^3 (C)who being the brightness of His glory and the express ^(D)image of His person, and ^(E)upholding all things by the word of His power, ^(F)when He had ^[c]by Himself ^[d]purged ^[e]our sins, ^(G)sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, ⁴ having become so much better than the angels, as ^(H)He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.

^12 (A)giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of ^(B)the inheritance of the saints in the light. ¹³ He has delivered us from ^(C)the power of darkness ^(D)and ^[a]conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, ^14 (E)in whom we have redemption ^[b]through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.

¹⁵ He is ^(F)the image of the invisible God, ^(G)the firstborn over all creation. ¹⁶ For ^(H)by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or ^(I)dominions or ^[c]principalities or ^[d]powers. All things were created ^(J)through Him and for Him. ^17 (K)And He is before all things, and in Him ^(L)all things consist. ¹⁸ And ^(M)He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, ^(N)the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.

⁸ Yet indeed I also count all things loss ^(A)for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ

⁶ who, ^(A)being in the form of God, did not consider it ^[a]robbery to be equal with God,

¹⁹ because ^(A)what may be known of God is ^[a]manifest ^[b]in them, for ^(B)God has shown it to them. ²⁰ For since the creation of the world ^(C)His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and ^[c]Godhead, so that they are without excuse,

God’s Everlasting Love

³¹ What then shall we say to these things? ^(A)If God is for us, who can be against us? ^32 (B)He who did not spare His own Son, but ^(C)delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?

The Perfect Revelation of the Lord

To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.

The Eternal Word^(A)

1 In the beginning ^(B)was the Word, and the ^(C)Word was ^(D)with God, and the Word was ^(E)God.