1 Corinthians 1:17-25 English Standard Version
17 For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and (A)not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.
Christ the Wisdom and Power of God
18 For the word of the cross is (B)folly to (C)those who are perishing, but to us (D)who are being saved it is (E)the power of God. 19 For it is written,
(F)“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,
and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.”
20 (G)Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? (H)Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach[a] to save those who believe. 22 For (I)Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ (J)crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, 24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ (K)the power of God and (L)the wisdom of God. 25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 1 Corinthians 1:21 Or the folly of preaching
Cross references
- 1 Corinthians 1:17 : ch. 2:1, 4, 13; [2 Cor. 10:10; 11:6; 2 Pet. 1:16]
- 1 Corinthians 1:18 : ver. 21, 23, 25; ch. 2:14
- 1 Corinthians 1:18 : 2 Cor. 2:15; 4:3; 2 Thess. 2:10
- 1 Corinthians 1:18 : ch. 15:2; [Acts 2:47]
- 1 Corinthians 1:18 : Rom. 1:16; [ver. 24]
- 1 Corinthians 1:19 : Cited from Isa. 29:14; [Job 5:12, 13; Jer. 8:9; Matt. 11:25]
- 1 Corinthians 1:20 : Isa. 19:12
- 1 Corinthians 1:20 : ch. 2:6; 3:19; Isa. 44:25; Rom. 1:22; [ver. 26]
- 1 Corinthians 1:22 : See Matt. 12:38
- 1 Corinthians 1:23 : Gal. 5:11; See 1 Pet. 2:8
- 1 Corinthians 1:24 : [ver. 18]
- 1 Corinthians 1:24 : ver. 30; Col. 2:3; [Luke 11:49]
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.
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