¹⁶ For I am not ashamed of the gospel,^(A) because it is the power of God^(B) that brings salvation to everyone who believes:^(C) first to the Jew,^(D) then to the Gentile.^(E)

Christ Crucified Is God’s Power and Wisdom

¹⁸ For the message of the cross is foolishness^(A) to those who are perishing,^(B) but to us who are being saved^(C) it is the power of God.^(D)

² For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.^{(A) 3} I came to you^(B) in weakness^(C) with great fear and trembling.^{(D) 4} My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words,^(E) but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power,^{(F) 5} so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power.^(G)