1 Corinthians 1:18-31

New American Standard Bible

The Wisdom of God

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

“^(D)I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,
And the understanding of those who have understanding, I will confound.”

²⁰^(E)Where is the wise person? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of ^(F)this age? Has God not ^(G)made foolish the wisdom of ^(H)the world? ²¹For since in the wisdom of God ^(I)the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, ^(J)God ^[c]was pleased through the ^(K)foolishness of the ^[d]message preached to ^(L)save those who believe. ²²For indeed ^(M)Jews ask for ^[e]signs and Greeks search for wisdom; ²³but we preach ^[f]^(N)Christ crucified, ^(O)to Jews a stumbling block, and to Gentiles ^(P)foolishness, ²⁴but to those who are ^(Q)the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ ^(R)the power of God and ^(S)the wisdom of God. ²⁵For the ^(T)foolishness of God is wiser than mankind, and ^(U)the weakness of God is stronger than mankind.

²⁶For ^[g]consider your ^(V)calling, brothers and sisters, that there were ^(W)not many wise according to ^[h]the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; ²⁷but ^(X)God has chosen the foolish things of ^(Y)the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of ^(Z)the world to shame the things which are strong, ²⁸and the ^[i]insignificant things of ^(AA)the world and the despised God has chosen, ^(AB)the things that are not, so that He may ^(AC)nullify the things that are, ²⁹so that ^(AD)no ^[j]human may boast before God. ³⁰But it is ^[k]due to Him that you are in ^(AE)Christ Jesus, who became to us ^(AF)wisdom from God, ^[l]and ^(AG)righteousness and ^(AH)sanctification, and ^(AI)redemption, ³¹so that, just as it is written: “^(AJ)Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”