Watchtower ONLINE LIBRARY

1 Corinthians 1:21

New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures
- 21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not get to know God+ through its wisdom,+ God was pleased through the foolishness+ of what is preached to save those believing.

1 Corinthians 1:21

The Kingdom Interlinear Translation of the Greek Scriptures
- 21 ἐπειδὴ Since γὰρ for ἐν in τῇ the σοφίᾳ wisdom τοῦ of the θεοῦ God οὐκ not ἔγνω knew ὁ the κόσμος world διὰ through τῆς the σοφίας wisdom τὸν the θεόν, God, εὐδόκησεν thought well ὁ the θεὸς God διὰ through τῆς the μωρίας foolishness τοῦ of the κηρύγματος preaching σῶσαι to save τοὺς the (ones) πιστεύοντας. believing.

1 Corinthians 1:21

New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures—With References
- 21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through its wisdom+ did not get to know God,+ God saw good through the foolishness+ of what is preached to save those believing.

1 Corinthians 1:21

The Bible in Living English
- 21 For since in God’s wisdom the world had not through wisdom known God, God was pleased to save believers through the foolishness of the preached message—

1 Corinthians 1:21

American Standard Version
- 21 For seeing that in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom knew not God, it was God’s good pleasure through the foolishness of the preaching to save them that believe.

1 Corinthians 1:21

The Emphasized Bible
- 21 For seeing that in the wisdom of God The world through its wisdom did not get to know God God was well-pleased—Through the foolishness of the thing proclaimed to save them that believe.

1 Corinthians 1:21

King James Version
- 21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.

1 Corinthians Study Notes—Chapter 1

New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures (Study Edition)
- 1:21
  
  the foolishness of what is preached: Paul described the preaching about Christ as “foolishness” because to the nations, that is what the message appeared to be. The Greeks could not understand why a Jew had to die as a despised criminal to save them. (1Co 1:18, 25; see study note on 1Co 1:22.) The Jews expected to be saved by works of law, by the giving of alms, and by the merit of their ancestors, especially Abraham. They did not want a messiah whom they saw as being weak, a man who allowed himself to be nailed to a stake.—1Co 1:23.