1 Corinthians 1:17-2:5 For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospelnot with words of human wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.

Common⁽ⁱ⁾ ¹⁷ For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospelnot with words of human wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power. ¹⁸ For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. ¹⁹ For it is written, "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the cleverness of the clever I will frustrate." ²⁰ Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? ²¹ For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know God, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. ²² Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, ²³ but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness, ²⁴ but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. ²⁵ For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. ²⁶ For consider your call, brethren; not many of you were wise according to fleshly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. ²⁷ But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong, ²⁸ God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things, and the things that are not, to nullify the things that are, ²⁹ so that no flesh may boast before God. ³⁰ It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, ³¹ therefore, as it is written, "Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord." ² ¹ When I came to you, brethren, I did not come with superiority of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God. ² For I resolved to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and him crucified. ³ I was with you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling, ⁴ and my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, ⁵ so that your faith might not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God.