17 aFor Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, bnot in 1cleverness of speech, so that the cross of Christ would not be made void.

The Wisdom of God

18 For the word of the cross is afoolishness to bthose who 1are perishing, but to us who 2are being saved it is cthe power of God.

19 For it is written,

“aI will destroy the wisdom of the wise,

And the cleverness of the clever I will set aside.”

20 aWhere is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of bthis age? Has not God cmade foolish the wisdom of dthe world?

21 For since in the wisdom of God athe world through its wisdom did not come to know God, bGod was well-pleased through the cfoolishness of the 1message preached to dsave those who believe.

22 For indeed aJews ask for 1signs and Greeks search for wisdom;

23 but we preach 1aChrist crucified, bto Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles cfoolishness,

24 but to those who are athe called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ bthe power of God and cthe wisdom of God.

25 Because the afoolishness of God is wiser than men, and bthe weakness of God is stronger than men.

26 For 1consider your acalling, brethren, that there were bnot many wise according to 2the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble;

27 but aGod has chosen the foolish things of bthe world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of bthe world to shame the things which are strong,

28 and the base things of athe world and the despised God has chosen, bthe things that are not, so that He may cnullify the things that are,

29 so that ano 1man may boast before God.

30 But 1by His doing you are in aChrist Jesus, who became to us bwisdom from God, 2and crighteousness and dsanctification, and eredemption,

31 so that, just as it is written, “aLet him who boasts, boast in the Lord.”