1 Corinthians 1:21
(KJV) 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.
(1611 KJV) For after that, in the wisedom of God, the world by wisedome knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishnesse of preaching, to saue them that beleeue.
(1568 Bishops Bible) For after that the world through wisedome knewe not God, in the wisedome of God: it pleased God through foolishnesse of preachyng to saue them that beleue.
(1526 Tyndale) Hath not God made the wysdome of this worlde folisshnes? For when the worlde thorow wysdome knew not God in ye wysdome of God: it pleased God thorow folisshnes of preachinge to save them yt beleve.
 
Counterfeit Versions
(NIV) For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.
(NASV) For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe.
(AMP) For when the world with all its earthly wisdom failed to perceive and recognize and know God by means of its own philosophy, God in His wisdom was pleased through the foolishness of preaching [salvation, procured by Christ and to be had through Him], to save those who believed (who clung to and trusted in and relied on Him).
(ESV) For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe.
(CEV) God was wise and decided not to let the people of this world use their wisdom to learn about him. Instead, God chose to save only those who believe the foolish message we preach.
(NKJV) For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe.
(HCSB) For since, in God's wisdom, the world did not know God through wisdom, God was pleased to save those who believe through the foolishness of the message preached.
(RSV) For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe.
(NWT) 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.
 
Textus Receptus
- Traditional Text
epeidh gar en th sojia tou qeou ouk egnw o kosmoV dia thV sojiaV ton qeon eudokhsen o qeoV dia thV mwriaV tou khrugmatoV swsai touV pisteuontaV
 
Hort-Westcott
- Critical Text
epeidh gar en th sojia tou qeou ouk egnw o kosmoV dia thV sojiaV ton qeon eudokhsen o qeoV dia thV mwriaV tou khrugmatoV swsai touV pisteuontaV
 
Corrupted Manuscripts
None
 
Affected Teaching
Here is one of those verses which have words added to them in the English which should not be there. The King James Version teaches us that it is through the proclamation of the Gospel is how God saves a person. (Rom 10:17 KJV) So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. The modern versions call the message of the Gospel foolish. The wording no way implies that the message which is preached is foolish but the method whereby a person is saved will seem like foolishness. The world thinks they can do works to please God and make it to Heaven but the foolish aspect is that God saves through the proclaiming of His Word and to the world that would seem foolish. (Rom 1:16 KJV) For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. The Gospel is the power of God unto salvation and therefore the message would not be considered foolishness only the method of delivery because it completely excludes any kind of works. Once again the modern versions completely destroy the biblical message in this verse while making an attack on the Gospel by labeling it as “foolishness.”

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