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1 Corinthians 1:18-2:10
English Standard Version
1 Corinthians 1:18-2:10
English Standard Version
Christ the Wisdom and Power of God
18 For the word of the cross is (A)folly to (B)those who are perishing, but to us (C)who are being saved it is (D)the power of God. 19 For it is written,
(E)“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,
and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.”
20 (F)Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? (G)Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach[a] to save those who believe. 22 For (H)Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ (I)crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, 24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ (J)the power of God and (K)the wisdom of God. 25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
26 For consider your calling, brothers: (L)not many of you were wise according to worldly standards,[b] not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. 27 But (M)God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; (N)God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; 28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, even (O)things that are not, to (P)bring to nothing things that are, 29 so (Q)that no human being[c] might boast in the presence of God. 30 And because of him[d] you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us (R)wisdom from God, (S)righteousness and (T)sanctification and (U)redemption, 31 so that, as it is written, (V)“Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”
Proclaiming Christ Crucified
2 And I, when I came to you, brothers,[e] (W)did not come proclaiming to you (X)the testimony[f] of God with lofty speech or wisdom. 2 For I decided to know nothing among you except (Y)Jesus Christ and him crucified. 3 And (Z)I was with you (AA)in weakness and in fear and much trembling, 4 and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of (AB)the Spirit and of power, 5 so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men[g] but (AC)in the power of God.
Wisdom from the Spirit
6 Yet among (AD)the mature we do impart wisdom, although it is not (AE)a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, (AF)who are doomed to pass away. 7 But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, (AG)which God decreed before the ages for our glory. 8 None of (AH)the rulers of this age understood this, for (AI)if they had, they would not have crucified (AJ)the Lord of glory. 9 But, as it is written,
(AK)“What no eye has seen, nor ear heard,
nor the heart of man imagined,
what God has (AL)prepared (AM)for those who love him”—
10 these things (AN)God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even (AO)the depths of God.
Footnotes
- 1 Corinthians 1:21 Or the folly of preaching
- 1 Corinthians 1:26 Greek according to the flesh
- 1 Corinthians 1:29 Greek no flesh
- 1 Corinthians 1:30 Greek And from him
- 1 Corinthians 2:1 Or brothers and sisters
- 1 Corinthians 2:1 Some manuscripts mystery (or secret)
- 1 Corinthians 2:5 The Greek word anthropoi can refer to both men and women
1 Corinthians 1:18-2:10
New International Version
1 Corinthians 1:18-2:10
New International Version
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.
26 Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called.(U) Not many of you were wise(V) by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose(W) the foolish(X) things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 28 God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not(Y)—to nullify the things that are, 29 so that no one may boast before him.(Z) 30 It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus,(AA) who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness,(AB) holiness(AC) and redemption.(AD) 31 Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.”[b](AE)
2 And so it was with me, brothers and sisters. When I came to you, I did not come with eloquence or human wisdom(AF) as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God.[c] 2 For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.(AG) 3 I came to you(AH) in weakness(AI) with great fear and trembling.(AJ) 4 My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words,(AK) but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power,(AL) 5 so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power.(AM)
God’s Wisdom Revealed by the Spirit
6 We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature,(AN) but not the wisdom of this age(AO) or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing.(AP) 7 No, we declare God’s wisdom, a mystery(AQ) that has been hidden(AR) and that God destined for our glory before time began. 8 None of the rulers of this age(AS) understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.(AT) 9 However, as it is written:
“What no eye has seen,
what no ear has heard,
and what no human mind has conceived”[d]—
the things God has prepared for those who love him—(AU)
10 these are the things God has revealed(AV) to us by his Spirit.(AW)
The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.
Footnotes
- 1 Corinthians 1:19 Isaiah 29:14
- 1 Corinthians 1:31 Jer. 9:24
- 1 Corinthians 2:1 Some manuscripts proclaimed to you God’s mystery
- 1 Corinthians 2:9 Isaiah 64:4
English Standard Version (ESV) 
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.