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1 Corinthians 1:18-2:10
New American Bible (Revised Edition)

Paradox of the Cross. 18 The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.(A) 19 For it is written:

“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,
    and the learning of the learned I will set aside.”(B)

20 Where is the wise one? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made the wisdom of the world foolish?(C) 21 [a]For since in the wisdom of God the world did not come to know God through wisdom, it was the will of God through the foolishness of the proclamation to save those who have faith. 22 For Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom,(D) 23 but we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles,(E) 24 but to those who are called, Jews and Greeks alike, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.

The Corinthians and Paul.[b] 26 Consider your own calling, brothers. Not many of you were wise by human standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. 27 Rather, God chose the foolish of the world to shame the wise, and God chose the weak of the world to shame the strong,(F) 28 and God chose the lowly and despised of the world, those who count for nothing, to reduce to nothing those who are something, 29 so that no human being might boast[c] before God.(G) 30 It is due to him that you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God, as well as righteousness, sanctification, and redemption,(H) 31 so that, as it is written, “Whoever boasts, should boast in the Lord.”(I)

Chapter 2

1 When I came to you, brothers, proclaiming the mystery of God,[d] I did not come with sublimity of words or of wisdom.(J) 2 For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ, and him crucified.(K) 3 I came to you in weakness[e] and fear and much trembling, 4 and my message and my proclamation were not with persuasive [words of] wisdom,[f] but with a demonstration of spirit and power,(L) 5 so that your faith might rest not on human wisdom but on the power of God.(M)

The True Wisdom.[g] 6 Yet we do speak a wisdom to those who are mature, but not a wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age who are passing away. 7 Rather, we speak God’s wisdom,[h] mysterious, hidden, which God predetermined before the ages for our glory, 8 and which none of the rulers of this age[i] knew; for, if they had known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 9 But as it is written:

“What eye has not seen, and ear has not heard,
    and what has not entered the human heart,
    what God has prepared for those who love him,”(N)

10 (O)this God has revealed to us through the Spirit.

For the Spirit scrutinizes everything, even the depths of God.

Footnotes

  1. 1:21–25 True wisdom and power are to be found paradoxically where one would least expect them, in the place of their apparent negation. To human eyes the crucified Christ symbolizes impotence and absurdity.
  2. 1:26–2:5 The pattern of God’s wisdom and power is exemplified in their own experience, if they interpret it rightly (1 Cor 1:26–31), and can also be read in their experience of Paul as he first appeared among them preaching the gospel (1 Cor 2:1–5).
  3. 1:29–31 “Boasting (about oneself)” is a Pauline expression for the radical sin, the claim to autonomy on the part of a creature, the illusion that we live and are saved by our own resources. “Boasting in the Lord” (1 Cor 1:31), on the other hand, is the acknowledgment that we live only from God and for God.
  4. 2:1 The mystery of God: God’s secret, known only to himself, is his plan for the salvation of his people; it is clear from 1 Cor 1:18–25; 2:2, 8–10 that this secret involves Jesus and the cross. In place of mystery, other good manuscripts read “testimony” (cf. 1 Cor 1:6).
  5. 2:3 The weakness of the crucified Jesus is reflected in Paul’s own bearing (cf. 2 Cor 10–13). Fear and much trembling: reverential fear based on a sense of God’s transcendence permeates Paul’s existence and preaching. Compare his advice to the Philippians to work out their salvation with “fear and trembling” (Phil 2:12), because God is at work in them just as his exalting power was paradoxically at work in the emptying, humiliation, and obedience of Jesus to death on the cross (Phil 2:6–11).
  6. 2:4 Among many manuscript readings here the best is either “not with the persuasion of wisdom” or “not with persuasive words of wisdom,” which differ only by a nuance. Whichever reading is accepted, the inefficacy of human wisdom for salvation is contrasted with the power of the cross.
  7. 2:6–3:4 Paul now asserts paradoxically what he has previously been denying. To the Greeks who “are looking for wisdom” (1 Cor 1:22), he does indeed bring a wisdom, but of a higher order and an entirely different quality, the only wisdom really worthy of the name. The Corinthians would be able to grasp Paul’s preaching as wisdom and enter into a wisdom-conversation with him if they were more open to the Spirit and receptive to the new insight and language that the Spirit teaches.
  8. 2:7–10a God’s wisdom: his plan for our salvation. This was his own eternal secret that no one else could fathom, but in this new age of salvation he has graciously revealed it to us. For the pattern of God’s secret, hidden to others and now revealed to the Church, cf. also Rom 11:25–36; 16:25–27; Eph 1:3–10; 3:3–11; Col 1:25–28.
  9. 2:8 The rulers of this age: this suggests not only the political leaders of the Jews and Romans under whom Jesus was crucified (cf. Acts 4:25–28) but also the cosmic powers behind them (cf. Eph 1:20–23; 3:10). They would not have crucified the Lord of glory: they became the unwitting executors of God’s plan, which will paradoxically bring about their own conquest and submission (1 Cor 15:24–28).
Close NRSVCE

1 Corinthians 1:18-2:10
New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition

Christ the Power and Wisdom of God

18 For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written,

“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,
    and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.”

20 Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? 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, God decided, through the foolishness of our proclamation, to save those who believe. 22 For Jews demand signs and Greeks desire wisdom, 23 but we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 24 but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God’s weakness is stronger than human strength.

26 Consider your own call, brothers and sisters:[a] not many of you were wise by human standards,[b] not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; 28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, things that are not, to reduce to nothing things that are, 29 so that no one[c] might boast in the presence of God. 30 He is the source of your life in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification and redemption, 31 in order that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in[d] the Lord.”

Proclaiming Christ Crucified

2 When I came to you, brothers and sisters,[e] I did not come proclaiming the mystery[f] of God to you in lofty words or wisdom. 2 For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and him crucified. 3 And I came to you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling. 4 My speech and my proclamation were not with plausible words of wisdom,[g] but with a demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5 so that your faith might rest not on human wisdom but on the power of God.

The True Wisdom of God

6 Yet among the mature we do speak wisdom, though it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to perish. 7 But we speak God’s wisdom, secret and hidden, which God decreed before the ages for our glory. 8 None of the rulers of this age understood this; for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 9 But, as it is written,

“What no eye has seen, nor ear heard,
    nor the human heart conceived,
what God has prepared for those who love him”—

10 these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Corinthians 1:26 Gk brothers
  2. 1 Corinthians 1:26 Gk according to the flesh
  3. 1 Corinthians 1:29 Gk no flesh
  4. 1 Corinthians 1:31 Or of
  5. 1 Corinthians 2:1 Gk brothers
  6. 1 Corinthians 2:1 Other ancient authorities read testimony
  7. 1 Corinthians 2:4 Other ancient authorities read the persuasiveness of wisdom
Close GNT

1 Corinthians 1:18-2:10
Good News Translation

Christ the Power and the Wisdom of God

18 For the message about Christ's death on the cross is nonsense to those who are being lost; but for us who are being saved it is God's power. 19 (A)The scripture says,

“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise
    and set aside the understanding of the scholars.”

20 (B)So then, where does that leave the wise? or the scholars? or the skillful debaters of this world? God has shown that this world's wisdom is foolishness!

21 (C)For God in his wisdom made it impossible for people to know him by means of their own wisdom. Instead, by means of the so-called “foolish” message we preach, God decided to save those who believe. 22 Jews want miracles for proof, and Greeks look for wisdom. 23 As for us, we proclaim the crucified Christ, a message that is offensive to the Jews and nonsense to the Gentiles; 24 but for those whom God has called, both Jews and Gentiles, this message is Christ, who is the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For what seems to be God's foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and what seems to be God's weakness is stronger than human strength.

26 Now remember what you were, my friends, when God called you. From the human point of view few of you were wise or powerful or of high social standing. 27 God purposely chose what the world considers nonsense in order to shame the wise, and he chose what the world considers weak in order to shame the powerful. 28 He chose what the world looks down on and despises and thinks is nothing, in order to destroy what the world thinks is important. 29 This means that no one can boast in God's presence. 30 But God has brought you into union with Christ Jesus, and God has made Christ to be our wisdom. By him we are put right with God; we become God's holy people and are set free. 31 (D)So then, as the scripture says, “Whoever wants to boast must boast of what the Lord has done.”

The Message about the Crucified Christ

2 When I came to you, my friends, to preach God's secret truth,[a] I did not use big words and great learning. 2 For while I was with you, I made up my mind to forget everything except Jesus Christ and especially his death on the cross. 3 (E)So when I came to you, I was weak and trembled all over with fear, 4 and my teaching and message were not delivered with skillful words of human wisdom, but with convincing proof of the power of God's Spirit. 5 Your faith, then, does not rest on human wisdom but on God's power.

God's Wisdom

6 Yet I do proclaim a message of wisdom to those who are spiritually mature. But it is not the wisdom that belongs to this world or to the powers that rule this world—powers that are losing their power. 7 The wisdom I proclaim is God's secret wisdom, which is hidden from human beings, but which he had already chosen for our glory even before the world was made. 8 (F)None of the rulers of this world knew this wisdom. If they had known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 9 (G)However, as the scripture says,

“What no one ever saw or heard,
    what no one ever thought could happen,
    is the very thing God prepared for those who love him.”

10 But[b] it was to us that God made known his secret by means of his Spirit. The Spirit searches everything, even the hidden depths of God's purposes.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Corinthians 2:1 God's secret truth; some manuscripts have the testimony about God.
  2. 1 Corinthians 2:10 But; some manuscripts have For.
Listen to 1 Corinthians 1:18-2:10
Close NASB

1 Corinthians 1:18-2:10
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.

6 Yet we do speak wisdom among those who are (AS)mature; a wisdom, however, not of (AT)this age nor of the rulers of (AU)this age, who are (AV)passing away; 7 but we speak God’s wisdom in a (AW)mystery, the hidden wisdom which God (AX)predestined before the (AY)ages to our glory; 8 the wisdom (AZ)which none of the rulers of (BA)this age has understood; for if they had understood it, they would not have crucified (BB)the Lord of glory; 9 but just as it is written:

“(BC)Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard,
And which have not entered the human heart,
All that God has prepared for those who love Him.”

10 [t](BD)For to us God revealed them (BE)through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the (BF)depths of God.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Corinthians 1:18 Or perish
  2. 1 Corinthians 1:18 Or are saved
  3. 1 Corinthians 1:21 Or resolved
  4. 1 Corinthians 1:21 Lit preaching
  5. 1 Corinthians 1:22 Or confirming miracles
  6. 1 Corinthians 1:23 I.e., the Messiah
  7. 1 Corinthians 1:26 Lit see
  8. 1 Corinthians 1:26 I.e., human standards
  9. 1 Corinthians 1:28 Or lowly
  10. 1 Corinthians 1:29 Lit flesh
  11. 1 Corinthians 1:30 Lit from Him
  12. 1 Corinthians 1:30 Or both
  13. 1 Corinthians 2:1 Lit speech
  14. 1 Corinthians 2:1 Or cleverness
  15. 1 Corinthians 2:1 One early ms mystery
  16. 1 Corinthians 2:4 Lit word
  17. 1 Corinthians 2:4 Or cleverness
  18. 1 Corinthians 2:5 Lit be
  19. 1 Corinthians 2:5 Or cleverness
  20. 1 Corinthians 2:10 One early ms But
Listen to 1 Corinthians 1:18-2:10
Close NIV

1 Corinthians 1:18-2:10
New International Version

Christ Crucified Is God’s Power and Wisdom

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

“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise;
    the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”[a](E)

20 Where is the wise person?(F) Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age?(G) Has not God made foolish(H) the wisdom of the world? 21 For since in the wisdom of God the world(I) through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save(J) those who believe.(K) 22 Jews demand signs(L) and Greeks look for wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified:(M) a stumbling block(N) to Jews and foolishness(O) to Gentiles, 24 but to those whom God has called,(P) both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God(Q) and the wisdom of God.(R) 25 For the foolishness(S) of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness(T) of God is stronger than human strength.

26 Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called.(U) Not many of you were wise(V) by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose(W) the foolish(X) things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 28 God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not(Y)—to nullify the things that are, 29 so that no one may boast before him.(Z) 30 It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus,(AA) who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness,(AB) holiness(AC) and redemption.(AD) 31 Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.”[b](AE)

2 And so it was with me, brothers and sisters. When I came to you, I did not come with eloquence or human wisdom(AF) as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God.[c] 2 For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.(AG) 3 I came to you(AH) in weakness(AI) with great fear and trembling.(AJ) 4 My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words,(AK) but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power,(AL) 5 so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power.(AM)

God’s Wisdom Revealed by the Spirit

6 We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature,(AN) but not the wisdom of this age(AO) or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing.(AP) 7 No, we declare God’s wisdom, a mystery(AQ) that has been hidden(AR) and that God destined for our glory before time began. 8 None of the rulers of this age(AS) understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.(AT) 9 However, as it is written:

“What no eye has seen,
    what no ear has heard,
and what no human mind has conceived”[d]—
    the things God has prepared for those who love him—(AU)

10 these are the things God has revealed(AV) to us by his Spirit.(AW)

The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Corinthians 1:19 Isaiah 29:14
  2. 1 Corinthians 1:31 Jer. 9:24
  3. 1 Corinthians 2:1 Some manuscripts proclaimed to you God’s mystery
  4. 1 Corinthians 2:9 Isaiah 64:4
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Scripture texts, prefaces, introductions, footnotes and cross references used in this work are taken from the New American Bible, revised edition © 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC All Rights Reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

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