Letters to the Churches

For the word of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us who are saved it is the power of God.

For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, And the discernment of the discerning will I bring to nought.

Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?

For seeing that in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom knew not God, it was God’s good pleasure through the foolishness of the preaching to save them that believe.

Seeing that Jews ask for signs, and Greeks seek after wisdom:

but we preach Christ crucified, unto Jews a stumblingblock, and unto Gentiles foolishness;

but unto them that are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.

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

For behold your calling, brethren, that not many wise after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:

but God chose the foolish things of the world, that he might put to shame them that are wise; and God chose the weak things of the world, that he might put to shame the things that are strong;

and the base things of the world, and the things that are despised, did God choose, yea and the things that are not, that he might bring to nought the things that are:

that no flesh should glory before God.

But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who was made unto us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption:

that, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.

And I, brethren, when I came unto you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God.

For I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.

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

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

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

We speak wisdom, however, among them that are fullgrown: yet a wisdom not of this world, nor of the rulers of this world, who are coming to nought:

but we speak God’s wisdom in a mystery, even the wisdom that hath been hidden, which God foreordained before the worlds unto our glory:

which none of the rulers of this world hath known: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory:

but as it is written, Things which eye saw not, and ear heard not, Andwhichentered not into the heart of man, Whatsoever things God prepared for them that love him.

But unto us God revealed them through the Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.

For who among men knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of the man, which is in him? even so the things of God none knoweth, save the Spirit of God.