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16 (I also baptized the family of Stephanas. But I do not remember that I myself baptized any others.) 17 Christ did not give me the work of baptizing people. He gave me the work of preaching the Good News, and he sent me to preach the Good News without using words of worldly wisdom. If I used worldly wisdom to tell the Good News, the cross[a] of Christ would lose its power.

Christ Is God’s Power and Wisdom

18 The teaching about the cross seems foolish to those who are lost. But to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

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Footnotes

  1. 1:17 cross Paul uses the cross as a picture of the gospel, the story of Christ’s death and rising from death to pay for men’s sins. The cross, or Christ’s death, was God’s way to save men.

16 (Yes, I also baptized the household(A) of Stephanas;(B) beyond that, I don’t remember if I baptized anyone else.) 17 For Christ did not send me to baptize,(C) but to preach the gospel—not with wisdom(D) and eloquence, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.

Christ Crucified Is God’s Power and Wisdom

18 For the message of the cross is foolishness(E) to those who are perishing,(F) but to us who are being saved(G) it is the power of God.(H)

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