17
1For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, 2not in [a]cleverness of speech, so that the cross of Christ would not be madevoid.
The Wisdom of God
18 For the word of the cross is 3foolishness to 4those who [b]are perishing, but to us who [c]are being saved it is 5the power of God.
19
For it is written, "6I WILL DESTROY THE WISDOM OF THE WISE, AND THE CLEVERNESS OF THE CLEVER I WILL SETASIDE."
20
7Where is the wiseman? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of 8thisage? Has not God9madefoolish the wisdom of 10the world?
21
For since in the wisdom of God11the worldthrough its wisdom did not come to knowGod, 12God was well-pleasedthrough the 13foolishness of the [d]messagepreached to 14savethose who believe.
22
For indeed15Jewsask for [e]signs and Greekssearch for wisdom;
23
but we preach[f]16Christcrucified, 17to Jews a stumblingblock and to Gentiles18foolishness,
24
but to those who are 19the called, bothJews and Greeks, Christ20the power of God and 21the wisdom of God.
25
Because the 22foolishness of God is wiser than men, and 23the weakness of God is stronger than men.