1 Corinthians 1:18-20

Christ the Wisdom and Power of God

18 For the word of the cross is b folly to c those who are perishing, but to us d who are being saved it is e the power of God.

19 For it is written,
f "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,
and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart."

20 g Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? h Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?

  1. Cross References
    1 Corinthians 1:21
    For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe.
    1 Corinthians 1:23
    But we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles.
    1 Corinthians 1:25
    For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
    1 Corinthians 2:14
    The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.
  2. Cross References
    2 Corinthians 2:15
    For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing.
    2 Corinthians 4:3
    And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled only to those who are perishing.
    2 Thessalonians 2:10
    And with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.
  3. Cross References
    1 Corinthians 15:2
    And by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you - unless you believed in vain.
    Acts 2:47
    Praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.
  4. Cross References
    Romans 1:16
    For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
    1 Corinthians 1:24
    But to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.
  5. Cross References
    Isaiah 29:14
    Therefore, behold, I will again do wonderful things with this people, with wonder upon wonder; and the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the discernment of their discerning men shall be hidden.
    Job 5:12 - 13
    He frustrates the devices of the crafty, so that their hands achieve no success.
    Jeremiah 8:9
    The wise men shall be put to shame; they shall be dismayed and taken; behold, they have rejected the word of the Lord, so what wisdom is in them?
    Matthew 11:25
    At that time Jesus declared, "I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children.
  6. Cross References
    Isaiah 29:14
    Therefore, behold, I will again do wonderful things with this people, with wonder upon wonder; and the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the discernment of their discerning men shall be hidden.
  7. Cross References
    Isaiah 19:12
    Where then are your wise men? Let them tell you that they might know what the Lord of hosts has purposed against Egypt.
  8. Cross References
    1 Corinthians 2:6
    Yet among the mature we do impart wisdom, although it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to pass away.
    1 Corinthians 3:19
    For the wisdom of this world is folly with God. For it is written, "He catches the wise in their craftiness.
    Isaiah 44:25
    Who frustrates the signs of liars and makes fools of diviners, who turns wise men back and makes their knowledge foolish.
    Romans 1:22
    Claiming to be wise, they became fools.
    1 Corinthians 1:26
    For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth.
English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.