18For 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.19For it is written: "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the understanding of the intelligent I will reject."20Where is the wise one? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?21For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, God was well pleased, through the foolishness of the proclamation, to save the believers.22since Jews also ask for signs and Greeks seek wisdom23but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block indeed, to Gentiles foolishness,24but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.25because the foolish thing of God is wiser than men, and the weak thing of God is stronger than men.26Consider your calling, brothers, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many powerful, not many noble.27but God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong,28and the ignoble of the world and the despised God chose, the non-existing things, in order that he might render the existing things powerless,29so that no flesh might boast before God.30But from him you are in Christ Jesus, who became wisdom to us from God—righteousness as well as sanctification and redemption—31so that, just as it is written, "The one boasting—let him boast in the Lord."
2
Chapter 2
1And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come with superiority of word or wisdom in proclaiming to you the testimony of God.2For I decided not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.3And I came to you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling,4And my word and my preaching were not in persuasive wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and power,5so that your faith might not be in the wisdom of humans but in the power of God.