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18 For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are dying, 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.
    I will bring the discernment of the discerning to nothing.”Isaiah 29:14

20 Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the lawyer of this world? Hasn’t God made foolish the wisdom of this world? 21 For seeing that in the wisdom of God, the world through its wisdom didn’t know God, it was God’s good pleasure through the foolishness of the preaching to save those who believe. 22 For Jews ask for signs, Greeks seek after wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews, and foolishness to Greeks, 24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ is 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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The Wisdom of God

18 For 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. 19 For 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? 21 For 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. 22 For indeed (M)Jews ask for [e]signs and Greeks search for wisdom; 23 but we preach [f](N)Christ crucified, (O)to Jews a stumbling block, and to Gentiles (P)foolishness, 24 but to those who are (Q)the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ (R)the power of God and (S)the wisdom of God. 25 For 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. 1 Corinthians 1:18 Or perish
  2. 1 Corinthians 1:18 Or are saved
  3. 1 Corinthians 1:21 Or resolved
  4. 1 Corinthians 1:21 Lit preaching
  5. 1 Corinthians 1:22 Or confirming miracles
  6. 1 Corinthians 1:23 I.e., the Messiah