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1 Corinthians 1:17-21
New American Standard Bible
1 Corinthians 1:17-21
New American Standard Bible
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:
“(F)I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,
And the understanding of those who have understanding, I will confound.”
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.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 1 Corinthians 1:17 I.e., persuasive rhetoric
- 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 1:17-21
New International Version
1 Corinthians 1:17-21
New International Version
17 For Christ did not send me to baptize,(A) but to preach the gospel—not with wisdom(B) and eloquence, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.
Christ Crucified Is God’s Power and Wisdom
18 For the message of the cross is foolishness(C) to those who are perishing,(D) but to us who are being saved(E) it is the power of God.(F) 19 For it is written:
“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise;
the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”[a](G)
20 Where is the wise person?(H) Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age?(I) Has not God made foolish(J) the wisdom of the world? 21 For since in the wisdom of God the world(K) through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save(L) those who believe.(M)
Footnotes
- 1 Corinthians 1:19 Isaiah 29:14
New American Standard Bible (NASB) 
New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.
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.