1CO 1:18-25

The Message of the Cross

18For 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. [1:19] For it is written: "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and I will set aside the understanding of the understanding ones." [1:20] Where is the wise? Where is the legal expert? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made the wisdom of the world foolish? [1:21] For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through its wisdom did not know God, God was pleased through the foolishness of the proclamation to save those who believe. [1:22] And since Jews ask for signs and Greeks seek wisdom, [1:23] but we proclaim Christ crucified — a stumbling trap to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles — [1:24] yet to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God. [1:25] Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

In the world it was spoken into

In 1st-century Corinth, a bustling Roman colony with a diverse population, the message of the cross would have been deeply countercultural. The Greco-Roman world valued wisdom and rhetoric, with philosophers and orators holding high social status. The Jewish audience, particularly the scribes , revered the Torah and sought signs as divine validation. Paul’s assertion that the cross is both foolishness to the perishing and the power of God to the saved would have been jarring. The cross symbolized shame and defeat in Roman society, reserved for the lowest criminals. For Jews, it was a stumbling block , contradicting expectations of a triumphant Messiah. Paul’s critique of worldly wisdom aligns with Stoic and Epicurean debates but subverts them by elevating divine folly. The proclamation of Christ crucified challenged both Jewish and Greco-Roman assumptions, presenting a paradoxical salvation that defied human logic and cultural norms.

›See the receipts

How other translations render this

1CO 1:18

KJV: For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
BSB: 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.
Koinōnos: 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.

1CO 1:19

KJV: For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.
BSB: For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”
Koinōnos: For it is written: "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and I will set aside the understanding of the understanding ones.

1CO 1:20

KJV: Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?
BSB: Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?
Koinōnos: Where is the wise? Where is the legal expert? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made the wisdom of the world foolish?

1CO 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.
BSB: 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.
Koinōnos: For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through its wisdom did not know God, God was pleased through the foolishness of the proclamation to save those who believe.

1CO 1:22

KJV: For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:
BSB: Jews demand signs and Greeks search for wisdom,
Koinōnos: And since Jews ask for signs and Greeks seek wisdom,

1CO 1:23

KJV: But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;
BSB: but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles,
Koinōnos: but we proclaim Christ crucified — a stumbling trap to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles —

1CO 1:24

KJV: But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.
BSB: but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.
Koinōnos: yet to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God.

1CO 1:25

KJV: Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
BSB: For the foolishness of God is wiser than manʼs wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than manʼs strength.
Koinōnos: Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.

Where the historical framing draws from

Josephus, WarsWars 2.9.2

›Josephus, Wars Wars 2.9.2

“Now Pilate, who was sent as procurator into Judea by Tiberius, sent by night those images of Caesar that are called ensigns into Jerusalem.”

Cited to ground: Pilate, who was sent as procurator into Judea by Tiberius

Translator's notes

1CO 1:18

message:The word translated 'message' here refers to a complete, coherent communication or statement, often implying a reasoned discourse or a divine utterance, not just a simple piece of information.
perishing:The term translated 'perishing' describes a state of utter ruin or destruction, often implying a complete loss of well-being or existence, not merely a gradual decline.

1CO 1:20

scribe?:The word translated 'scribe' referred to a highly educated person, often a legal expert or interpreter of religious law, holding a position of authority and respect in Jewish society.

1CO 1:23

a stumbling block:The phrase 'a stumbling block' refers to a trap or an obstacle that causes someone to trip and fall, often leading to ruin or moral failure, not just a minor inconvenience.