1 Corinthians 1:17-2:5 For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to proclaim the Good News—not in wisdom of words, so that the cross of the Christ would not be made void.

NHEB⁽ⁱ⁾ ¹⁷ For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to proclaim the Good News—not in wisdom of words, so that the cross of the Christ would not be made void. ¹⁸ For the message about 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 discernment of the discerning I will nullify." ²⁰ Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Hasn't God made foolish the wisdom of the world? ²¹ For seeing that in the wisdom of God, the world through its wisdom did not know God, it was God's good pleasure through the foolishness of the preaching to save those who believe. ²² For Jews ask for signs, and Greeks seek after wisdom, ²³ but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to the non-Jews, ²⁴ but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God. ²⁵ Because the foolishness of God is wiser than man's, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's. ²⁶ For consider your calling, brothers, that not many were wise from a human perspective, not many mighty, not many of noble birth. ²⁷ But God chose the foolish of the world to shame the wise. And God chose the weak of the world to shame the strong. ²⁸ And God chose the lowly of the world, and the despised, what is considered to be nothing, to bring to nothing what is considered to be something, ²⁹ that no flesh might boast before God. ³⁰ And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification and redemption, ³¹ so that, as it is written, "Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord." ² ¹ When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with superiority of speech or wisdom, proclaiming to you the mystery of God. ² For I determined not to know anything among you, except Jesus Christ, and him crucified. ³ When I was with you, I was weak and afraid and I shook. ⁴ My speech and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, ⁵ that your faith would not rest on human wisdom, but on the power of God.