1 Corinthians 1:17-2:5 For Christ sent me, not to give baptism, but to be a preacher of the good news: not with wise words, for fear that the cross of Christ might be made of no value.

BBE⁽ⁱ⁾ ¹⁷ For Christ sent me, not to give baptism, but to be a preacher of the good news: not with wise words, for fear that the cross of Christ might be made of no value. ¹⁸ For the word of the cross seems foolish to those who are on the way to destruction; but to us who are on the way to salvation it is the power of God. ¹⁹ As it says in the holy Writings, I will put an end to the wisdom of the wise, and will put on one side the designs of those who have knowledge. ²⁰ Where is the wise? where is he who has knowledge of the law? where is the man of this world who has a love of discussion? has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? ²¹ For because, by the purpose of God, the world, with all its wisdom, had not the knowledge of God, it was God's pleasure, by so foolish a thing as preaching, to give salvation to those who had faith in him. ²² Seeing that the Jews make request for signs, and the Greeks are looking for knowledge: ²³ But we give the good news of Christ on the cross, a hard thing to the Jews, and a foolish thing to the Gentiles; ²⁴ But to those of God's selection, Jews and Greeks, Christ is the power and the wisdom of God. ²⁵ Because what seems foolish in God is wiser than men; and what seems feeble in God is stronger than men. ²⁶ For you see God's design for you, my brothers, that he has not taken a great number of the wise after the flesh, not the strong, not the noble: ²⁷ But God made selection of the foolish things of this world so that he might put the wise to shame; and the feeble things that he might put to shame the strong; ²⁸ And the low things of the world, and the things without honour, did God make selection of, yes, even the things which are not, so that he might make as nothing the things which are: ²⁹ So that no flesh might have glory before God. ³⁰ But God has given you a place in Christ Jesus, through whom God has given us wisdom and righteousness and salvation, and made us holy: ³¹ So that, as it is said in the holy Writings, Whoever has a desire for glory, let his glory be in the Lord. ² ¹ And when I came to you, my brothers, I did not come with wise words of knowledge, putting before you the secret of God. ² For I had made the decision to have knowledge of nothing among you but only of Jesus Christ on the cross. ³ And I was with you without strength, in fear and in doubt. ⁴ And in my preaching there were no honeyed words of wisdom, but I was dependent on the power of the Spirit to make it clear to you: ⁵ So that your faith might be based not on man's wisdom but on the power of God.