Christ the Power and Wisdom of God

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. 19 For it is written,

“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,

and the intelligence of the intelligent I will nullify.”

20 Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made the wisdom of [fn]this world foolish? 21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through its wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of our proclamation to save those who believe. 22 For Jews ask for [fn]a sign and Greeks seek wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to [fn]Greeks, 24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

26 Consider your calling, brothers, that not many of you were wise according to the flesh, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. 27 But 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. 28 God chose what is lowly and despised in the world, things that are regarded as nothing, to nullify the things that are regarded as something, 29 so that no flesh might boast before God. 30 It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God, and in whom we have righteousness, sanctification, and redemption. 31 Therefore, as it is written, “Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord.”