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16 (I also baptized the family of Stephanas, but I don’t remember that I myself baptized any others.) 17 Christ did not give me the work of baptizing people. He gave me the work of telling the Good News. But he sent me to tell the Good News without using clever speech, which would take away the power that is in the cross[a] of Christ.

God’s Power and Wisdom in Christ Jesus

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 Corinthians 1:17 cross Paul uses the cross as a picture of the Good News, the story of Christ’s death to pay for people’s sins. The cross (Christ’s death) was God’s way to save people.

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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