1 Corinthians 1:18 BSB

1 Corinthians 1:18

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.

BSB

Parallel translations (2) ▾

ASV

For the word of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us who are saved it is the power of God.

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.

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Commentary

3 voices

Adam Clarke

1762–1832

Commentary on the Bible (1832)

For the preaching of the cross - Ὁ λογος γαρ ὁ του σταυρου, The doctrine of the cross; or the doctrine that is of or concerning the cross; that is, the doctrine that proclaims salvation to a lost world through the crucifixion of Christ. Is to them that perish foolishness - There are, properly speaking, but two classes of men known where the Gospel is preached: απολλυμενοι, the unbelievers and gainsayers, who are perishing; and σοζομενοι, the obedient believers, who are in a state of salvation.

The record, by era

The Nineteenth Century2 voices

Charles Spurgeon

1834–1892

The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, Sermon No. 1611: “The Word of the Cross” (lightly modernized text, CCEL edition) (1881)

NOTE well that in the 17th verse Paul had renounced the "wisdom of words." He says that he was sent to "preach the Gospel, not with wisdom of words, lest the Cross of Christ should be made of no effect." It is very clear, therefore, that there is an excellence, elegance and eloquence of language which would deprive the Gospel of its due effect.

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

1802–1910

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)

God's powerful instrument of salvation; the highest exhibition of God's power (Ro 1:16). What seems to the world "weakness" in God's plan of salvation (1Co 1:25), and in its mode of delivery by His apostle (1Co 2:3) is really His mighty "power." What seems "foolishness" because wanting man's "wisdom of words" (1Co 1:17), is really the highest "wisdom of God" (1Co 1:24).

Voices on this verse

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Original language & word study

18 tagged words

Original	Transliteration	Meaning	Word study
Ὁ	Ho	The	G3588 →
λόγος	logos	message	G3056 →
γὰρ	gar	for	G1063 →
ὁ	ho	<the>	G3588 →
τοῦ	tou	of the	G3588 →
σταυροῦ	staurou	cross	G4716 →
τοῖς	tois	to those	G3588 →
μὲν	men	indeed	G3303 →
ἀπολλυμένοις	apollumenois	perishing	G622 →
μωρία	mōria	foolishness	G3472 →
ἐστίν,	estin	is,	G1510 →
τοῖς	tois	to those	G3588 →
δὲ	de	however	G1161 →
σῳζομένοις	sōzomenois	being saved	G4982 →
ἡμῖν	hēmin	to us	G3165 →
δύναμις	dunamis	power	G1411 →
θεοῦ	theou	of God	G2316 →
ἐστιν.	estin	it is.	G1510 →

Rare words are the text's own signal of a deliberate thread: the fewer the occurrences, the more the places it appears belong together.

The walk

The walk8

Where the connections lead

Follow this verse’s cross-references two steps out. Each card is a verse this one points to, and beneath it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several different paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it. Every stop shows its own words, and every stop is a page.

Through
Romans 1:16
I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, then to the Greek.
leads to
- Mark 8:38
  If anyone is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in His Father’s glory with the…
- 2 Timothy 1:8
  So do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, or of me, His prisoner. Instead, join me in suffering for the gospel by the power of God.
- 1 Peter 4:16
  But if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but glorify God that you bear that name.
- 2 Timothy 1:12
  For this reason, even though I suffer as I do, I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have…
- Psalms 40:9–10
  I proclaim righteousness in the great assembly; behold, I do not seal my lips, as You, O LORD, do know.
Through
1 Corinthians 2:14
The natural man does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God. For they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.
leads to
- Romans 8:5–8
  Those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh; but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.
- Matthew 13:11–17
  He replied, “The knowledge of the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them.
- 2 Corinthians 4:4–6
  The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers so they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.