1 Corinthians 1:17-25

Christian Standard Bible

¹⁷ For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel—not with eloquent wisdom, so that the cross^(A) of Christ will not be emptied of its effect.

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.^{(B) 19} For it is written,

²⁰ Where is the one who is wise? Where is the teacher of the law?^[b] Where is the debater of this age?^(D) 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^(E) and the Greeks seek wisdom, ²³ but we preach Christ crucified,^(F) a stumbling block to the Jews and foolishness to the Gentiles.^{[c] 24} Yet to those who are called,^(G) 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.