¹⁶ For I am not ^(A)ashamed of the gospel, for ^(B)it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the ^(C)Jew first and also to ^(D)the Greek. ¹⁷ For in it ^(E)the righteousness of God is revealed ^[a]from faith to faith; as it is written: “^[b](F)But the righteous one will live by faith.”

^17 (A)For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, ^(B)not with ^[a]cleverness of speech, so that the cross of Christ would not be made of no effect.

The Wisdom of God

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

^20 (G)Where is the wise person? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of ^(H)this age? Has God not ^(I)made foolish the wisdom of ^(J)the world? ²¹ For since in the wisdom of God ^(K)the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, ^(L)God ^[d]was pleased through the ^(M)foolishness of the ^[e]message preached to ^(N)save those who believe.

⁸ For ^(A)by grace you have been saved ^(B)through faith; and ^[a]this is not of yourselves, it is ^(C)the gift of God; ^9 (D)not a result of works, so that ^(E)no one may boast. ¹⁰ For we are His workmanship, ^(F)created in ^(G)Christ Jesus for ^(H)good works, which God ^(I)prepared beforehand so that we would ^(J)walk in them.