1 Corinthians 1:18-25
Amplified Bible
The Wisdom of God
18 For the message of the cross is foolishness [absurd and illogical] to those who are perishing and spiritually dead [because they reject it], but to us who are being saved [by God’s grace] it is [the manifestation of] the power of God. 19 For it is written and forever remains written,
“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise [the philosophy of the philosophers],
And the cleverness of the clever [who do not know Me] I will nullify.”(A)
20 Where is the wise man (philosopher)? Where is the scribe (scholar)? Where is the debater (logician, orator) of this age? Has God not exposed the foolishness of this world’s wisdom? 21 For since the world through all its [earthly] wisdom failed to recognize God, God in His wisdom was well-pleased through the [a]foolishness of the message preached [regarding salvation] to save those who believe [in Christ and welcome Him as Savior]. 22 For Jews demand signs (attesting miracles), and Greeks pursue [worldly] wisdom and philosophy, 23 but we preach Christ crucified, [a message which is] to Jews a stumbling block [that provokes their opposition], and to Gentiles foolishness [just utter nonsense], 24 but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks (Gentiles), Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God.(B) 25 [This is] because the foolishness of God [is not foolishness at all and] is wiser than men [far beyond human comprehension], and the weakness of God is stronger than men [far beyond the limits of human effort].
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 1 Corinthians 1:21 The straightforward message of salvation seemed foolish to unbelievers.
1 Corinthians 1:18-25
Mounce Reverse Interlinear New Testament
18 For gar the ho message logos · ho of the ho cross stauros is eimi foolishness mōria to those ho who are perishing apollymi, but de to ho us hēmeis who are being saved sōzō it is eimi the power dynamis of God theos. 19 For gar it is written graphō, “ I will destroy apollymi the ho wisdom sophia of the ho wise sophos, and kai the ho shrewdness synesis of the ho intelligent synetos I will thwart atheteō.” 20 Where pou is the wise sophos person ? Where pou is the scholar grammateus? Where pou is the brilliant syzētētēs debater of ho this houtos age aiōn? Has not ouchi God theos made foolish mōrainō · ho the ho wisdom sophia of the ho world kosmos? 21 For gar since epeidē in en the ho wisdom sophia of ho God theos the ho world kosmos did not ou come to know ginōskō God theos through dia · ho wisdom sophia, · ho God theos was pleased eudokeō · ho through dia the ho foolishness mōria of ho what we preach kērygma to save sōzō those ho who believe pisteuō. 22 For epeidē · kai Jews Ioudaios demand aiteō signs sēmeion and kai Greeks Hellēn are looking for zēteō wisdom sophia, 23 but de we hēmeis preach kēryssō Christ Christos crucified stauroō, a stumbling block skandalon to Jews Ioudaios and de foolishness mōria to Gentiles ethnos. 24 Yet de to those autos who ho are called klētos, both te Jews Ioudaios and kai Greeks Hellēn, Christ Christos is the power dynamis of God theos and kai the wisdom sophia of God theos. 25 For hoti the ho foolishness mōros of ho God theos is eimi wiser sophos than the wisdom of ho men anthrōpos, and kai the ho weakness asthenēs of ho God theos is stronger ischuros than the strength of ho men anthrōpos.
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