¹⁷ For Christ did not send me to baptize,^(A) but to preach the gospel—not with wisdom^(B) and eloquence, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.

Christ Crucified Is God’s Power and Wisdom

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

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

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