For the wordof the crossis foolishnessto thosewho are perishing,but to us who are being savedit is the powerof God.
But a naturalmandoes not acceptthe things of the Spiritof God,for they are foolishnessto him; and he cannotunderstandthem, becausethey are spirituallyappraised.
For I am not ashamedof the gospel,for it is the powerof Godfor salvationto everyonewho believes,to the Jewfirstand alsoto the Greek.
and with allthe deceptionof wickednessfor thosewho perish,becausethey did not receivethe loveof the truthsoas to be saved.
And evenifour gospelis veiled,it is veiledto thosewho are perishing,
For sincein the wisdomof Godthe worldthroughits wisdomdid not [come to] knowGod,Godwas well-pleasedthroughthe foolishnessof the message preachedto savethosewho believe.
For the wisdomof thisworldis foolishnessbeforeGod.For it is written,"[He is] THE ONE WHO CATCHESTHE WISEIN THEIR CRAFTINESS";
for our gospeldid not cometo you in wordonly,but alsoin powerand in the HolySpiritand with fullconviction;justas you knowwhat kind of menwe provedto be amongyou for your sake.
For I determinedto knownothingamongyou exceptJesusChrist,and Him crucified.
BEHOLD,YOU SCOFFERS,AND MARVEL,AND PERISH;FOR I AM ACCOMPLISHINGA WORKIN YOUR DAYS,A WORKWHICHYOU WILL NEVERBELIEVE,THOUGHSOMEONESHOULD DESCRIBEIT TO YOU.'"
For the wordof Godis livingand activeand sharperthananytwo-edgedsword,and piercingas faras the divisionof souland spirit,of bothjointsand marrow,and able to judgethe thoughtsand intentionsof the heart.
for the weaponsof our warfareare not of the flesh,but divinelypowerfulfor the destructionof fortresses.
by whichalsoyou are saved,ifyou hold fastthe wordwhichI preachedto you, unlessyou believedin vain.
Nowwhen they heardof the resurrectionof the dead,some[began] to sneer,but otherssaid,"We shall hearyou againconcerningthis."
And alsosomeof the Epicureanand Stoicphilosopherswere conversingwith him. Somewere saying,"Whatwould thisidle babblerwishto say?"Others,"He seemsto be a proclaimerof strangedeities,"--becausehe was preachingJesusand the resurrection.
praisingGodand havingfavorwith allthe people.And the Lordwas addingto their numberday by daythosewho were being saved.
We are foolsfor Christ'ssake,but you are prudentin Christ;we are weak,but you are strong;you are distinguished,but we are without honor.
fixing our eyeson Jesus,the authorand perfecterof faith,whofor the joyset beforeHim enduredthe cross,despisingthe shame,and has sat downat the right handof the throneof God.