Jews demand signs and Greeks search for wisdom,
Parallel translations
- WEB For Jews ask for signs, Greeks seek after wisdom,
- KJV For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:
- NKJV For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom;
- NASB For indeed Jews ask for signs and Greeks search for wisdom;
- NLT It is foolish to the Jews, who ask for signs from heaven. And it is foolish to the Greeks, who seek human wisdom.
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
Jews demanded miraculous signs and Greeks pursued philosophical wisdom. Both sought God on their own terms.
Overview
Paul characterizes the two cultural mindsets confronting the gospel: Jews wanted signs of power, Greeks prized eloquent wisdom. Each demanded that God conform to their expectations. Both stumble at a crucified Messiah, who fits neither the craving for spectacle nor the appetite for human sophistication.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 8
- Matt 16:1–4Then the Pharisees and Sadducees came and tested Jesus by asking Him to show them a sign from heaven.
- Acts 17:18–21Some Epicurean and Stoic philosophers also began to debate with him. Some of them asked, “What is this babbler trying to say?” Others said, “He seems to be advocating foreign gods.” They said this because Paul was proclaiming the good news of Jesus and the resurrection.
- Luke 11:16And others tested Him by demanding a sign from heaven.
- John 2:18On account of this, the Jews demanded, “What sign can You show us to prove Your authority to do these things?”
- Mark 8:11Then the Pharisees came and began to argue with Jesus, testing Him by demanding from Him a sign from heaven.
- Matt 12:38–39Then some of the scribes and Pharisees said to Him, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from You.”
- Luke 11:20But if I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.
- John 4:28Then the woman left her water jar, went back into the town, and said to the people,
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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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 1:22 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
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.