1 Corinthians 1:18-25

New American Standard Bible

The Wisdom of God

¹⁸For the word of the cross is ^(A)foolishness to ^(B)those who ^[a]are perishing, but to us who ^[b]are being saved it is ^(C)the power of God. ¹⁹For it is written:

“^(D)I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,
And the understanding of those who have understanding, I will confound.”

²⁰^(E)Where is the wise person? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of ^(F)this age? Has God not ^(G)made foolish the wisdom of ^(H)the world? ²¹For since in the wisdom of God ^(I)the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, ^(J)God ^[c]was pleased through the ^(K)foolishness of the ^[d]message preached to ^(L)save those who believe. ²²For indeed ^(M)Jews ask for ^[e]signs and Greeks search for wisdom; ²³but we preach ^[f]^(N)Christ crucified, ^(O)to Jews a stumbling block, and to Gentiles ^(P)foolishness, ²⁴but to those who are ^(Q)the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ ^(R)the power of God and ^(S)the wisdom of God. ²⁵For the ^(T)foolishness of God is wiser than mankind, and ^(U)the weakness of God is stronger than mankind.

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Footnotes

1 Corinthians 1:18 Or perish
1 Corinthians 1:18 Or are saved
1 Corinthians 1:21 Or resolved
1 Corinthians 1:21 Lit preaching
1 Corinthians 1:22 Or confirming miracles
1 Corinthians 1:23 I.e., the Messiah

1 Corinthians 1:18-25

New King James Version

Christ the Power and Wisdom of God^(A)

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

^(F)“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,
And bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.”

²⁰^(G)Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the ^[b]disputer of this age? ^(H)Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? ²¹For since, in the ^(I)wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. ²²For ^(J)Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; ²³but we preach Christ crucified, ^(K)to the Jews a ^[c]stumbling block and to the ^[d]Greeks ^(L)foolishness, ²⁴but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ ^(M)the power of God and ^(N)the wisdom of God. ²⁵Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.