For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
Parallel translations
- WEB For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are dying, but to us who 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.
- NKJV 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.
- NASB 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.
- NLT The message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction! But we who are being saved know it is the very power of God.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The message of the cross seems foolish to those perishing but is the very power of God to the saved. How one views the cross reveals one's standing before God.
Overview
Paul contrasts two responses to 'the word of the cross': to the perishing it is folly, but to the saved it is God's saving power. This divides humanity not by intellect or status but by God's work of salvation. The cross, scandalous to worldly wisdom, is precisely where God's power to rescue sinners is displayed.
Cross-references & the web
Theme
- The Cross"The word of the cross is the power of God."
Cross-references · 19
- 1 Cor 2:14But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
- Rom 1:16For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
- 2 Th 2:10And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
- 1 Cor 1:23–25But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;
- 2 Cor 4:3But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:
- 1 Cor 1:21For 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.
- 2 Cor 2:15–16For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish:
- 1 Cor 3:19For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.
- 1 Th 1:5For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.
- 1 Cor 2:2For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.
- Acts 13:41Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish: for I work a work in your days, a work which ye shall in no wise believe, though a man declare it unto you.
- 2 Cor 10:4(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
- Heb 4:12For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
- Gal 6:12–14As many as desire to make a fair shew in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised; only lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ.
- Ps 110:2–3The LORD shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies.
- Acts 17:32And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked: and others said, We will hear thee again of this matter.
- 1 Cor 15:2By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
- Acts 2:47Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.
- Acts 17:18Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoicks, encountered him. And some said, What will this babbler say? other some, He seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods: because he preached unto them Jesus, and the resurrection.
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Christ at the center
Christ crucified is the wisdom and power of God; he is our Passover sacrificed for us, the firstfruits of resurrection, the foundation on which everything is built.
How 1 Corinthians 1:18 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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