1 Corinthians 1:17-25

New King James Version

¹⁷For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, ^(A)not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect.

Christ the Power and Wisdom of God^(B)

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

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

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