Good News Translation GNT
New International Version NIV
18 For the message about Christ's death on the cross is nonsense to those who are being lost; but for us who are being saved it is God's power.
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For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
19 The scripture says, "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise and set aside the understanding of the scholars."
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For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”
20 So then, where does that leave the wise? or the scholars? or the skillful debaters of this world? God has shown that this world's wisdom is foolishness!
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Where is the wise person? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?
21 For God in his wisdom made it impossible for people to know him by means of their own wisdom. Instead, by means of the so-called "foolish" message we preach, God decided to save those who believe.
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For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.
22 Jews want miracles for proof, and Greeks look for wisdom.
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Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom,
23 As for us, we proclaim the crucified Christ, a message that is offensive to the Jews and nonsense to the Gentiles;
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but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles,
24 but for those whom God has called, both Jews and Gentiles, this message is Christ, who is the power of God and the wisdom of God.
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but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.
25 For what seems to be God's foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and what seems to be God's weakness is stronger than human strength.
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For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.