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1 CORINTHIANS

CHAPTERS

1 Corinthians 1:18-25

“For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the understanding of those who have understanding, I will confound. 20 Where is the wise person? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has God not made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. 22 For indeed Jews ask for signs and Greeks search for wisdom; 23 but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block, and to Gentiles foolishness, 24 but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than mankind, and the weakness of God is stronger than mankind.”


Cross is foolishness: The Greek’s, who esteemed philosophy, thought the cross was foolish compared to the writings of their philosophers such as Plato and Aristotle. The cross, while not anti-intellectual, is a stumbling block to the Greeks likely because of the concept of the logos, the eternal and unchanging truth which governs the universe. According to Paul’s Gospel, the eternal and unchanging truth is not only a person but was crucified. This would have been a very difficult concept for Greeks to accept. 

Wisdom of God: God presents a message in Christ that confounds the highly intellectual because the idea of God dying is foolishness. However, those who are considered fools according to the world, receive the Gospel with gratitude. 

Christ crucified: Christ crucified is a stumbling block to the Jews because it was asinine for the Jews to think that their messiah could be murdered. Jesus is the search for contentment present within the hearts of both Jews and Gentiles.

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1 CORINTHIANS

CHAPTERS