Faithfully Proclaim the Cross of Christ – 1 Corinthians 1:16-2:5
1 (16) I also baptized the household of Stephanas; besides them, I do not remember if I baptized anyone else—(17) for Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel; and to do so not with a discreet choice of words, so that the cross of Christ would not be deprived of its power. (18) Although the doctrine of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing; 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 I will bring to nothing the intelligence of the intelligent. (20) Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God turned the wisdom of the world into foolishness? (21) Since the world did not know God through its wisdom, in His wisdom God was pleased through the foolishness of the preaching to save those who believe.
(22) Although the Jews ask for signs and the Greeks look for wisdom, (23) we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to the Jews and foolishness to the Gentiles; (24) but for those who are called, (both Jews and Greeks,) Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God—(25) because the foolishness of God is wiser than men and the weakness of God is stronger than men. (26) Just consider your calling, brothers, consider the fact that not many of you are wise by human standards, not many are influential, not many are of noble birth. (27) On the contrary, God chose the foolish things of the world in order that he might put the wise to shame, and God chose the weak things of the world in order that he might put the strong to shame. (28) Indeed, God chose the lowly things of this world and the things that are despised and the things that have no standing, so that he might reduce to nothing the things that are highly regarded by the world. (29) He did so in order that nobody may boast before God. (30) It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—righteousness and sanctification and redemption; (31) in order that it may be just as it has been written, He who boasts, let him boast in the Lord.
2 When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or human wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony of God. (2) I was determined to know nothing while I was with you, except Jesus Christ and him crucified. (3) I came to you in weakness and fear and with much trembling. (4) And my speech and my preaching were not characterized by persuasive wisdom, but by a demonstration of the Spirit and power; (5) in order that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.
Now proceed to the next section of this study, entitled, Exploring the Passage.
