1 Corinthians 1:17-20
New Catholic Bible
17 The Message of the Cross and Human Wisdom.[a] For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel—and to do so without words of human wisdom lest the cross of Christ be devoid of its meaning. 18 Indeed, 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. 19 For it is written,
“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,
and the understanding of the learned I will bring to naught.”[b]
20 Where now are the wise ones? Where are the men of learning? Where are the debaters of this present age? Has God not shown the wisdom of the world to be foolish?
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- 1 Corinthians 1:17 The most beautiful construction of the human spirit cannot by itself bring salvation to the human race. This section does not oppose faith and philosophy to one another. It affirms above all that people are saved not by an intellectual theory but by God’s intervention in Jesus Christ. Faith does not consist in an ideology.
- 1 Corinthians 1:19 The citation is from Isa 29:14, where the Lord denounces the “wise” for their policy of seeking an alliance with Egypt against King Sennacherib of Assyria. The wise: the 6th-century B.C. Athenian statesman Aristedes remarked that every street in Corinth had its own so-called wise man, who claimed to have a solution to all the problems of the world.
1 Corinthians 1:17-20
New King James Version
17 For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, (A)not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect.
Christ the Power and Wisdom of God(B)
18 For the [a]message of the cross is (C)foolishness to (D)those who are perishing, but to us (E)who are being saved it is the (F)power of God. 19 For it is written:
(G)“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,
And bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.”
20 (H)Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the [b]disputer of this age? (I)Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?
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- 1 Corinthians 1:18 Lit. word
- 1 Corinthians 1:20 debater
1 Corinthians 1:17-20
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?
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Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.
