₁₈For the message about Christ's death on the cross is nonsense to those who are being lost; but for us who are being saved it is God's power. ₁₉The scripture says:

₂₁For God in his wisdom made it impossible for people to know him by means of their own wisdom. Instead, by means of the so-called “foolish” message we preach, God decided to save those who believe. ₂₂Jews want miracles for proof, and Greeks look for wisdom. ₂₃As for us, we proclaim the crucified Christ, a message that is offensive to the Jews and nonsense to the Gentiles; ₂₄but for those whom God has called, both Jews and Gentiles, this message is Christ, who is the power of God and the wisdom of God. ₂₅For what seems to be God's foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and what seems to be God's weakness is stronger than human strength.

₂₆Now remember what you were, my brothers and sisters, when God called you. From the human point of view few of you were wise or powerful or of high social standing. ₂₇God purposely chose what the world considers nonsense in order to shame the wise, and he chose what the world considers weak in order to shame the powerful. ₂₈He chose what the world looks down on and despises, and thinks is nothing, in order to destroy what the world thinks is important. ₂₉This means that no one can boast in God's presence. ₃₀But God has brought you into union with Christ Jesus, and God has made Christ to be our wisdom. By him we are put right with God; we become God's holy people and are set free. ₃₁So then, as the scripture says, “Whoever wants to boast must boast of what the Lord has done.”