1 Corinthians 1:19-27

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19} For it is written:

I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,
and I will set aside the understanding of the experts.^(A)^(a)

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20} Where is the philosopher?^(b) Where is the scholar? Where is the debater of this age?^(B) Hasn’t God made the world’s wisdom foolish? ^{Tools
21} For since, in God’s wisdom, the world did not know God through wisdom, God was pleased to save those who believe through the foolishness of the message preached. ^{Tools
22} For the Jews ask for signs^(C) and the Greeks seek wisdom, ^{Tools
23} but we preach Christ crucified,^(D) a stumbling block to the Jews and foolishness to the Gentiles.^(c) ^{Tools
24} Yet to those who are called,^(E) both Jews and Greeks, Christ is God’s power and God’s wisdom, ^{Tools
25} because God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God’s weakness is stronger than human strength.

Boasting Only in the Lord

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26} Brothers, consider your calling: Not many are wise from a human perspective,^(d) not many powerful,^(F) not many of noble birth. ^{Tools
27} Instead, God has chosen^(G) what is foolish in the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen what is weak in the world to shame the strong.

Footnotes:

a. 1 Corinthians 1:19: Is 29:14

b. 1 Corinthians 1:20: Or wise

c. 1 Corinthians 1:23: Other mss read Greeks

d. 1 Corinthians 1:26: Lit wise according to the flesh

Cross references:

A. 1 Corinthians 1:19: Isaiah 29:14

B. 1 Corinthians 1:20: Luke 16:8

C. 1 Corinthians 1:22: Matthew 12:38

D. 1 Corinthians 1:23: Luke 23:26; 1 Corinthians 2:2; Galatians 3:1; Galatians 5:11

E. 1 Corinthians 1:24: Romans 1:6

F. 1 Corinthians 1:26: Acts 25:5

G. 1 Corinthians 1:27: Matthew 24:22; Ephesians 1:4