16 Now I gave Moshiach's tevilah also to Stephanas' household; as to the rest, I do not know if I gave Moshiach's tevilah to anyone else.
17 For Moshiach did not send me to give Moshiach's tevilah in the mikveh mayim, but to preach the Besuras HaGeulah, not by means of the lomdes (cleverness, erudition) of the rhetoric of Bnei Adam, lest the gevurah (power) of HaEtz HaKelalat Hashem (the Tree of the Curse of G-d--Dt 21:23) of Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach be buttel (cancelled out).
18 For the message of HaEtz HaKelalat Hashem (the Tree of the Curse of G-d--Dt 21:23) is narrishkait to the ones perishing. But to us who are being delivered in Yeshu'at Eloheinu, it is the gevurat Hashem (the power of G-d).
19 For it has been written, "I will destroy CHOCHMAT CHACHAMAV (the wisdom of the wise ones) U'VINAT NEVONAV (and the intelligence of the intelligent) I will set aside." Isa 29:14.
20 Where is the chacham (wise man)? Where is the sofer (scribe) of the yeshiva, where is the talmid chacham? Where is the philosophical debater of the Olam Hazeh? Did not Hashem make the so-called chochmah (wisdom) of the Olam Hazeh to look like narrishkait? [Isa 19:11,12; Job 12:17; Isa 44:25; Jer 8:9]
21 For, als (since)--and this was by the chochmah of Hashem--the Olam Hazeh did not by its chochmah have da'as of Hashem, G-d was pleased through the "sichlut" (foolishness) of the Hachrazah (Proclamation, Kerygma, Preaching) of the Besuras HaGeulah to save the ma'aminim (believers).
22 Yehudim ask for otot (signs Ex 7:3) and Yevanim (Greeks) seek chochmah,