1 Corinthians 1:15–31

¹⁵lest any man should say that ye were baptized into my name. ¹⁶And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any other. ¹⁷For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not in wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made void. ¹⁸For the word of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us who are saved it is the power of God. ¹⁹For it is written,

I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,

And the discernment of the discerning will I bring to nought.

²⁰Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? ²¹For seeing that in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom knew not God, it was God’s good pleasure through the foolishness of the preaching to save them that believe. ²²Seeing that Jews ask for signs, and Greeks seek after wisdom: ²³but we preach Christ crucified, unto Jews a stumblingblock, and unto Gentiles foolishness; ²⁴but unto them that are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. ²⁵Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

²⁶For behold your calling, brethren, that not many wise after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: ²⁷but God chose the foolish things of the world, that he might put to shame them that are wise; and God chose the weak things of the world, that he might put to shame the things that are strong; ²⁸and the base things of the world, and the things that are despised, did God choose, yea and the things that are not, that he might bring to nought the things that are: ²⁹that no flesh should glory before God. ³⁰But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who was made unto us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption: ³¹that, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.