Christ the Wisdom and Power of God

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

^20 (F)Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? ^(G)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 ^(H)Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, ²³ but we preach Christ ^(I)crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, ²⁴ but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ ^(J)the power of God and ^(K)the wisdom of God. ²⁵ For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

Paul in Corinth

18 After this Paul^[a] left Athens and went to Corinth.

^5 (A)When Silas and Timothy arrived from Macedonia, Paul ^(B)was occupied with the word, ^(C)testifying to the Jews that the Christ was ^(D)Jesus. ⁶ And when they opposed and reviled him, ^(E)he shook out his garments and said to them, ^(F)“Your blood be on your own heads! ^(G)I am innocent. ^(H)From now on I will go to the Gentiles.” ⁷ And he left there and went to the house of a man named Titius ^(I)Justus, ^(J)a worshiper of God. His house was next door to the synagogue. ^8 (K)Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed in the Lord, together ^(L)with his entire household. And many of the Corinthians hearing Paul believed and were baptized. ⁹ And the Lord said to Paul ^(M)one night in ^(N)a vision, ^(O)“Do not be afraid, but go on speaking and do not be silent, ^10 (P)for I am with you, and ^(Q)no one will attack you to harm you, for ^(R)I have many in this city who are my people.” ¹¹ And he stayed a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.