1 Corinthians 1:19–27

¹⁹For it is written:

“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise;

the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”^cl

²⁰Where is the wise person?^m Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age?ⁿ Has not God made foolish^o the wisdom of the world? ²¹For since in the wisdom of God the world^p through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save^q those who believe.^{r 22}Jews demand signs^s and Greeks look for wisdom, ²³but we preach Christ crucified:^t a stumbling block^u to Jews and foolishness^v to Gentiles, ²⁴but to those whom God has called,^w both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God^x and the wisdom of God.^{y 25}For the foolishness^z of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness^a of God is stronger than human strength.

²⁶Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called.^b Not many of you were wise^c by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. ²⁷But God chose^d the foolish^e things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.