In the New International Version (NIV) of the Bible, the primary passages about being “foolish” for Jesus or embracing worldly foolishness for Christ are found in the letters of the Apostle Paul to the church in Corinth:

1 Corinthians 4:10

“We are fools for Christ, but you are so wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are honored, we are dishonored!”

• Context: Paul uses irony to contrast the suffering, poverty, and public humiliation he and the other apostles endure for preaching the gospel with the self-satisfied, status-seeking attitude of some believers in Corinth.

1 Corinthians 3:18

“Do not deceive yourselves. If any of you think you are wise by the standards of this age, you should become ‘fools’ so that you may become wise.”

• Context: Paul warns believers to let go of arrogant, worldly ways of thinking, urging them to embrace what the world calls foolishness in order to receive true wisdom that comes from God.

1 Corinthians 1:18 & 1:25

“For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.”
“For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.”

• Context: Paul explains that the core story of Jesus dying on a cross looks completely irrational or embarrassing to non-believers, yet it is God’s ultimate plan for salvation.

1 Corinthians 1:27

“But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.”

• Context: God deliberately uses ordinary, overlooked, or seemingly weak people and methods so that human pride is stripped away and glory goes to Christ.