1 Corinthians 1:17 nasb — For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not in cleverness of speech, so that the cross of Chri…

NASB

"For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not in cleverness of speech, so that the cross of Christ would not be made void."

— 1 Corinthians 1:17, NASB

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1 Corinthians 1:17 in Other Translations

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1 Corinthians 1 — Context

14

I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius,

15

so that no one would say you were baptized in my name.

16

Now I did baptize also the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized any other.

17

For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not in cleverness of speech, so that the cross of Christ would not be made void.

18

For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

19

For it is written, "I WILL DESTROY THE WISDOM OF THE WISE, AND THE CLEVERNESS OF THE CLEVER I WILL SET ASIDE."

20

Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?

1 Corinthians 1:17 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does 1 Corinthians 1:17 say?
1 Corinthians 1:17 in the NASB reads: “For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not in cleverness of speech, so that the cross of Christ would not be made void.”
Where is 1 Corinthians 1:17 in the Bible?
1 Corinthians 1:17 is found in the New Testament, in the book of 1 Corinthians, chapter 1, verse 17.
Who wrote 1 Corinthians?
1 Corinthians is traditionally attributed to Paul the Apostle. It was written c. AD 55.
What is the book of 1 Corinthians about?
Paul writes to a gifted but fractured church wrestling with divisions, sexual sin, lawsuits, marriage questions, food offered to idols, and disorder in worship. Through every issue he points back to the cross, the Spirit, and the resurrection — and gives us the church's greatest chapter on love.
What are the major themes of 1 Corinthians?
1 Corinthians explores themes including Unity, Cross, Spiritual Gifts, Love, Resurrection. These themes shape the meaning and context of 1 Corinthians 1:17.
What translation should I read 1 Corinthians 1:17 in?
1 Corinthians 1:17 is available on GodsGoodBook in the King James Version (KJV), American Standard Version (ASV), World English Bible (WEB), NET Bible, Young's Literal Translation, Darby Bible, Douay-Rheims Bible, and the Bible in Basic English. Each translation reflects different translation philosophies — use the translation picker on this page to compare them, or browse our full translations directory.
How can I memorize 1 Corinthians 1:17?
1 Corinthians 1:17 reads (NASB): “For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not in cleverness of speech, so that the cross of Christ would not be made void.” Read it aloud, break it into short phrases, repeat each phrase three times before adding the next, then put the phrases together. Reading it in multiple translations (above) often helps the meaning settle.
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