1 Corinthians 1:17-2:8

New International Version

¹⁷For 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

¹⁸For 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) ¹⁹For it is written:

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

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

²⁶Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called.^(W) Not many of you were wise^(X) by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. ²⁷But God chose^(Y) the foolish^(Z) 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^(AA)—to nullify the things that are, ²⁹so that no one may boast before him.^(AB) ³⁰It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus,^(AC) who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness,^(AD) holiness^(AE) and redemption.^(AF) ³¹Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.”^[b]^(AG)

2 And so it was with me, brothers and sisters. When I came to you, I did not come with eloquence or human wisdom^(AH) 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.^(AI) ³I came to you^(AJ) in weakness^(AK) with great fear and trembling.^(AL) ⁴My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words,^(AM) but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power,^(AN) ⁵so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power.^(AO)

God’s Wisdom Revealed by the Spirit

⁶We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature,^(AP) but not the wisdom of this age^(AQ) or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing.^(AR) ⁷No, we declare God’s wisdom, a mystery^(AS) that has been hidden^(AT) and that God destined for our glory before time began. ⁸None of the rulers of this age^(AU) understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.^(AV)