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18 For the word of the cross is folly to them that perish; but to them that be made safe, that is to say, to us, it is the virtue of God.

19 For it is written, I shall destroy the wisdom of wise men [I shall lose the wisdom of wise men], and I shall reprove the prudence of prudent men.

20 Where is the wise man? where is the wise lawyer [where is the writer, or man of law]? where is the purchaser of this world? Whether God hath not made the wisdom of this world fond [Whether God hath not made the wisdom of this world foolish]?

21 For the world in wisdom of God knew not God by wisdom [For why for in the wisdom of God the world knew not God by wisdom], it pleased to God, by [the] folly of preaching, to make them safe that believed.

22 For Jews seek signs, and Greeks seek wisdom;

23 but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews cause of stumbling [to Jews soothly offence], and to heathen men folly;

24 but to those Jews and Greeks that be called, we preach Christ the virtue of God and the wisdom of God. [forsooth to them called, Jews and Greeks, Christ the virtue of God, and the wisdom of God.]

25 For that that is folly thing of God, is wiser than men; and that that is the feeble thing of God [and that that is the sick thing, or frail, of God], is stronger than men.

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18 For the preaching of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written: I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will cast away the understanding of the learned. 20 Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the philosopher of this world? Has not God made the wisdom of this world foolishness?

21 For when the world through wisdom did not know God, in the wisdom of God, it pleased God to save those who believe through the foolishness of preaching. 22 For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom. 23 But we preach Christ crucified: to the Jews an occasion of falling, and to the Greeks foolishness, 24 but to those who are called, both of the Jews and the Greeks, we preach Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

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18 For that [a]preaching of the cross is to them that perish, foolishness: but unto us, which are saved, it is the (A)[b]power of God.

19 [c]For it is written, (B)I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will cast away the understanding of the prudent.

20 Where is the wise? where is the [d]Scribe? where is the [e]disputer of this world? hath not God made the wisdom of this world foolishness?

21 [f]For seeing the [g]world by wisdom knew not God in the [h]wisdom of GOD, [i]it pleased God by the [j]foolishness of preaching to save them that believe:

22 (C)[k]Seeing also that the Jews require a sign, and the Grecians seek after wisdom.

23 But we preach Christ crucified: unto the Jews, even a stumbling block, and unto the Grecians, foolishness:

24 But unto them which are called, both of the Jews and Grecians, we preach Christ, the power of God, and the wisdom of God.

25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Corinthians 1:18 The preaching of Christ crucified, or the kinds of speech which we use.
  2. 1 Corinthians 1:18 It is that wherein he declareth his marvelous power in saving his elect, which would not so evidently appear, if it hanged upon any help of man: for so man might attribute that to himself, which is proper only to the cross of Christ.
  3. 1 Corinthians 1:19 The Apostle proveth that this ought not only not to seem strange, seeing that it was foretold so long before, but declareth further, that God is wont to punish the pride of the world in such sort, which so pleaseth itself in its own wisdom: and therefore that that is vain, yea a thing of nothing, and such as God rejecteth as unprofitable, which they so carefully labored for, and made so great account of.
  4. 1 Corinthians 1:20 Where art thou, O thou learned fellow, and thou that spendeth thy days in turning thy books?
  5. 1 Corinthians 1:20 Thou that spendeth all thy time in seeking out the secret things of this world, and in expounding all hard questions: and thus triumpheth he against all the men of this world, for there was not one of them that could so much as dream upon this secret and hidden mystery.
  6. 1 Corinthians 1:21 He showeth that the pride of men was worthily punished of GOD, because they would not behold God, as meet was they should; in the most clear glass of the wisdom of the world, which is the workmanship of the world.
  7. 1 Corinthians 1:21 By the world he meaneth all men which are not born anew, but remain as they were, when they were first born.
  8. 1 Corinthians 1:21 In the workmanship of this world, which hath the marvelous wisdom of God engraved in it, so that every man may behold it.
  9. 1 Corinthians 1:21 The goodness of God is wonderful, for while he goeth about to punish the pride of the world, he is very provident and careful, for the salvation of it, and teacheth men to become fools, that they may be wise to God.
  10. 1 Corinthians 1:21 So calleth the preaching of the Gospel as the enemies supposed it: but in the mean season he taunteth them very sharply, who had rather charge God with folly, than acknowledge their own and crave pardon for it.
  11. 1 Corinthians 1:22 A declaration of that which he said that the preaching of the Gospel, is foolish. It is foolish, saith he, to them whom God had not endued with new light, that is to say, to all men, being considered in themselves: for the Jews require miracles, and the Greeks arguments, which they may comprehend by their wit and wisdom: and therefore they do not only not believe the Gospel, but also they mock at it. Notwithstanding in this foolish preaching, there is the great virtue and wisdom of God, but such as those only which are called, do perceive. God showing most plainly, that even then when mad men think him most foolish, he is far wiser than they are: and that he surmounteth all their might and power, when he useth most vile and abject things, as it hath appeared in the fruit of the preaching of the Gospel.

18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. 20 Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? 21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. 22 For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: 23 but we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; 24 but unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. 25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

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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.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Corinthians 1:19 Isaiah 29:14