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1 Corinthians 1:18-25 KJV

1 Corinthians · chapter 1 · verses 18–25 · King James Version

¹⁸For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. ¹⁹For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. ²⁰Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? ²¹For 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. ²²For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: ²³But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; ²⁴But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. ²⁵Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.1 Corinthians 1:18-25 · King James Version

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1 Corinthians 1:18-25 in context

16And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any other.

17For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.

18For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

19For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.

20Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?

21For 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.

22For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:

23But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;

24But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.

25Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

26For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:

27But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;

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Commentary

We have here, I. The manner in which Paul preached the gospel, and the cross of Christ: Not with the wisdom of words (Co1 1:17), the enticing words of man's wisdom (Co1 2:4), the flourish of oratory, or the accuracies of philosophical language, upon which the Greeks so much prided themselves, and which seem to have…

— Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on verses 17-31

Cross references

Key words (Strong's)

stumblingblockmentruly, certainly, surely, indeedG3303 →
stumblingblockskandalonthe movable stick or trigger of a trap, a trap stick, a trap, snare, any impediment…G4625 →
understandingsynesisa running together, a flowing together with, knowledge, understanding, the understanding…G4907 →
foolishnessmōrosfoolish, impious, godlessG3474 →
preachinglogosof speech, a word, uttered by a living voice, embodies a conception or idea, what someone…G3056 →
preachingkērygmathat which is proclaimed by a herald or public crier, a proclamation by herald, in the NT…G2782 →
crucifiedstauroōto stake, drive down stakes, to fortify with driven stakes, to palisade, to crucify, to…G4717 →
weaknessasthenēsweak, infirm, feebleG772 →

Topics

Bible verses about The Cross

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