1Cor.1.18

The Message that points to Christ on the Cross seems like sheer silliness to those hellbent on destruction, but for those on the way of salvation it makes perfect sense. This is the way God works, and most powerfully as it turns out.

1Cor.1.18

For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

1Cor.1.18

For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

1Cor.1.18

I know very well how foolish the message of the cross sounds to those who are on the road to destruction. But we who are being saved recognize this message as the very power of God.

1Cor.1.19

It's written, I'll turn conventional wisdom on its head, I'll expose so-called experts as crackpots.

1Cor.1.19

For it is written: "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate."

1Cor.1.19

For it is written: "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, And bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent."

1Cor.1.19

As the Scriptures say, "I will destroy human wisdom and discard their most brilliant ideas."

1Cor.1.20

So where can you find someone truly wise, truly educated, truly intelligent in this day and age? Hasn't God exposed it all as pretentious nonsense?

1Cor.1.20

Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?

1Cor.1.20

Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?

1Cor.1.20

So where does this leave the philosophers, the scholars, and the world's brilliant debaters? God has made them all look foolish and has shown their wisdom to be useless nonsense.

1Cor.1.21

Since the world in all its fancy wisdom never had a clue when it came to knowing God, God in his wisdom took delight in using what the world considered dumb--preaching, of all things!-to bring those who trust him into the way of salvation.

1Cor.1.21

For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.

1Cor.1.21

For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe.

1Cor.1.21

Since God in his wisdom saw to it that the world would never find him through human wisdom, he has used our foolish preaching to save all who believe.

1Cor.1.22

While Jews clamor for miraculous demonstrations and Greeks go in for philosophical wisdom,

1Cor.1.22

Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom,

1Cor.1.22

For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom;

1Cor.1.22

God's way seems foolish to the Jews because they want a sign from heaven to prove it is true. And it is foolish to the Greeks because they believe only what agrees with their own wisdom.

1Cor.1.23

we go right on proclaiming Christ, the Crucified. Jews treat this like an anti-miracle--and Greeks pass it off as absurd.

1Cor.1.23

but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles,

1Cor.1.23

but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness,

1Cor.1.23

So when we preach that Christ was crucified, the Jews are offended, and the Gentiles say it's all nonsense.

1Cor.1.24

But to us who are personally called by God himself--both Jews and Greeks--Christ is God's ultimate miracle and wisdom all wrapped up in one.

1Cor.1.24

but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.

1Cor.1.24

but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.

1Cor.1.24

But to those called by God to salvation, both Jews and Gentiles, Christ is the mighty power of God and the wonderful wisdom of God.

1Cor.1.25

Human wisdom is so tinny, so impotent, next to the seeming absurdity of God. Human strength can't begin to compete with God's "weakness."

1Cor.1.25

For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength.

1Cor.1.25

Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

1Cor.1.25

This "foolish" plan of God is far wiser than the wisest of human plans, and God's weakness is far stronger than the greatest of human strength.

1Cor.1.26

Take a good look, friends, at who you were when you got called into this life. I don't see many of "the brightest and the best" among you, not many influential, not many from high-society families.

1Cor.1.26

Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth.

1Cor.1.26

For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called.

1Cor.1.26

Remember, dear brothers and sisters, that few of you were wise in the world's eyes, or powerful, or wealthy when God called you.

1Cor.1.27

Isn't it obvious that God deliberately chose men and women that the culture overlooks and exploits and abuses,

1Cor.1.27

But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.

1Cor.1.27

But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty;

1Cor.1.27

Instead, God deliberately chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose those who are powerless to shame those who are powerful.

1Cor.1.28

chose these "nobodies" to expose the hollow pretensions of the "somebodies"?

1Cor.1.28

He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things--and the things that are not--to nullify the things that are,

1Cor.1.28

and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are,

1Cor.1.28

God chose things despised by the world, things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important,

1Cor.1.29

That makes it quite clear that none of you can get by with blowing your own horn before God.

1Cor.1.29

so that no one may boast before him.

1Cor.1.29

that no flesh should glory in His presence.

1Cor.1.29

so that no one can ever boast in the presence of God.

1Cor.1.30

Everything that we have--right thinking and right living, a clean slate and a fresh start--comes from God by way of Jesus Christ.

1Cor.1.30

It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God--that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.

1Cor.1.30

But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God--and righteousness and sanctification and redemption--

1Cor.1.30

God alone made it possible for you to be in Christ Jesus. For our benefit God made Christ to be wisdom itself. He is the one who made us acceptable to God. He made us pure and holy, and he gave himself to purchase our freedom.

1Cor.1.31

That's why we have the saying, "If you're going to blow a horn, blow a trumpet for God."

1Cor.1.31

Therefore, as it is written: "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord."

1Cor.1.31

that, as it is written, "He who glories, let him glory in the LORD."

1Cor.1.31

As the Scriptures say, "The person who wishes to boast should boast only of what the Lord has done."

1Cor.2.1

You'll remember, friends, that when I first came to you to let you in on God's master stroke, I didn't try to impress you with polished speeches and the latest philosophy.

1Cor.2.1

When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God.

1Cor.2.1

And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God.

1Cor.2.1

Dear brothers and sisters, when I first came to you I didn't use lofty words and brilliant ideas to tell you God's message.

1Cor.2.2

I deliberately kept it plain and simple: first Jesus and who he is; then Jesus and what he did--Jesus crucified.

1Cor.2.2

For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.

1Cor.2.2

For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.

1Cor.2.2

For I decided to concentrate only on Jesus Christ and his death on the cross.

1Cor.2.3

I was unsure of how to go about this, and felt totally inadequate--I was scared to death, if you want the truth of it--

1Cor.2.3

I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling.

1Cor.2.3

I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling.

1Cor.2.3

I came to you in weakness--timid and trembling.

1Cor.2.4

and so nothing I said could have impressed you or anyone else. But the Message came through anyway. God's Spirit and God's power did it,

1Cor.2.4

My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power,

1Cor.2.4

And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power,

1Cor.2.4

And my message and my preaching were very plain. I did not use wise and persuasive speeches, but the Holy Spirit was powerful among you.

1Cor.2.5

which made it clear that your life of faith is a response to God's power, not to some fancy mental or emotional footwork by me or anyone else.

1Cor.2.5

so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power.

1Cor.2.5

that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.

1Cor.2.5

I did this so that you might trust the power of God rather than human wisdom.