1 Corinthians 1:18-2:5

New International Version

Christ Crucified Is God’s Power and Wisdom

¹⁸For 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) ¹⁹For it is written:

“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise;
the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”^[a]^(E)

²⁰Where 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? ²¹For 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) ²²Jews demand signs^(L) and Greeks look for wisdom, ²³but we preach Christ crucified:^(M) a stumbling block^(N) to Jews and foolishness^(O) to Gentiles, ²⁴but to those whom God has called,^(P) both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God^(Q) and the wisdom of God.^(R) ²⁵For the foolishness^(S) of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness^(T) of God is stronger than human strength.

²⁶Brothers 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. ²⁷But 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. ²⁸God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not^(Y)—to nullify the things that are, ²⁹so that no one may boast before him.^(Z) ³⁰It 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) ³¹Therefore, 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] ²For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.^(AG) ³I came to you^(AH) in weakness^(AI) with great fear and trembling.^(AJ) ⁴My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words,^(AK) but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power,^(AL) ⁵so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power.^(AM)