1 Corinthians 1:17-19

International Standard Version

¹⁷For the Messiah^[a] did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, not with eloquent wisdom, so the cross of the Messiah^[b] won’t be emptied of its power.

The Messiah is God’s Power and Wisdom

¹⁸For the message about the cross is nonsense to those who are being destroyed, but it is God’s power to us who are being saved. ¹⁹For it is written,

“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,
and the intelligence of the intelligent I will reject.”^[c]

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Footnotes

1 Corinthians 1:17 Or Christ
1 Corinthians 1:17 Or Christ
1 Corinthians 1:19 Isa 29:14

1 Corinthians 1:17-19

New International Version

¹⁷For Christ did not send me to baptize,^(A) but to preach the gospel—not with wisdom^(B) and eloquence, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.

Christ Crucified Is God’s Power and Wisdom

¹⁸For the message of the cross is foolishness^(C) to those who are perishing,^(D) but to us who are being saved^(E) it is the power of God.^(F) ¹⁹For it is written:

“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise;
the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”^[a]^(G)

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