21 [a]For seeing the [b]world by wisdom knew not God in the [c]wisdom of GOD, [d]it pleased God by the [e]foolishness of preaching to save them that believe:

22 (A)[f]Seeing also that the Jews require a sign, and the Grecians seek after wisdom.

23 But we preach Christ crucified: unto the Jews, even a stumbling block, and unto the Grecians, foolishness:

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Corinthians 1:21 He showeth that the pride of men was worthily punished of GOD, because they would not behold God, as meet was they should; in the most clear glass of the wisdom of the world, which is the workmanship of the world.
  2. 1 Corinthians 1:21 By the world he meaneth all men which are not born anew, but remain as they were, when they were first born.
  3. 1 Corinthians 1:21 In the workmanship of this world, which hath the marvelous wisdom of God engraved in it, so that every man may behold it.
  4. 1 Corinthians 1:21 The goodness of God is wonderful, for while he goeth about to punish the pride of the world, he is very provident and careful, for the salvation of it, and teacheth men to become fools, that they may be wise to God.
  5. 1 Corinthians 1:21 So calleth the preaching of the Gospel as the enemies supposed it: but in the mean season he taunteth them very sharply, who had rather charge God with folly, than acknowledge their own and crave pardon for it.
  6. 1 Corinthians 1:22 A declaration of that which he said that the preaching of the Gospel, is foolish. It is foolish, saith he, to them whom God had not endued with new light, that is to say, to all men, being considered in themselves: for the Jews require miracles, and the Greeks arguments, which they may comprehend by their wit and wisdom: and therefore they do not only not believe the Gospel, but also they mock at it. Notwithstanding in this foolish preaching, there is the great virtue and wisdom of God, but such as those only which are called, do perceive. God showing most plainly, that even then when mad men think him most foolish, he is far wiser than they are: and that he surmounteth all their might and power, when he useth most vile and abject things, as it hath appeared in the fruit of the preaching of the Gospel.

21 For since in the wisdom of God the world(A) through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save(B) those who believe.(C) 22 Jews demand signs(D) and Greeks look for wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified:(E) a stumbling block(F) to Jews and foolishness(G) to Gentiles,

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