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,

^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.

²⁶ For consider your calling, brothers: ^(M)not many of you were wise according to worldly standards,^[b] not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. ²⁷ But ^(N)God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; ^(O)God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; ²⁸ God chose what is low and despised in the world, even ^(P)things that are not, to ^(Q)bring to nothing things that are, ²⁹ so ^(R)that no human being^[c] might boast in the presence of God. ³⁰ And because of him^[d] you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us ^(S)wisdom from God, ^(T)righteousness and ^(U)sanctification and ^(V)redemption, ³¹ so that, as it is written, ^(W)“Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”