Read & explore together
The Message of the Cross
Paul explains why the message about Christ crucified is received in very different ways. In these verses, he contrasts human wisdom with God’s way of saving, and shows that what seems weak or foolish can reveal God’s power and wisdom.
Understanding the passage
The setting of these words
This part of 1 Corinthians is written as teaching in a letter. Paul focuses on “the word of the cross” and describes how different people respond to it. He quotes Scripture, asks sharp questions about human wisdom, and centres the passage on the preaching of Christ crucified.
1 Corinthians 1:18–25Main takeaway
This passage teaches that God saves believers through the message of Christ crucified, even though many people judge that message by human standards and reject it.
Follow the letter’s teaching
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01Two opposite responses to the crossPaul begins with a strong contrast. The “word of the cross” means the message about Christ’s death on the cross.
Explanation
Paul begins with a strong contrast. The “word of the cross” means the message about Christ’s death on the cross. Some regard it as foolishness, while others know it as God’s power. The difference in response is not described as a difference in cleverness, but in whether people are dying or being saved.
02God overturns human wisdomPaul supports his point by quoting Scripture: God will destroy the wisdom of the wise and bring discernment to nothing.
Explanation
Paul supports his point by quoting Scripture: God will destroy the wisdom of the wise and bring discernment to nothing. He then asks where the wise, the scribe, and the debater are. His point is that God has exposed the limits of the world’s wisdom when it tries to stand over God.
03God saves through preached message and beliefPaul says the world did not know God through its own wisdom. Instead, in God’s wisdom and good pleasure, he saves those who believe through what others may dismiss as foolish preaching.
Explanation
Paul says the world did not know God through its own wisdom. Instead, in God’s wisdom and good pleasure, he saves those who believe through what others may dismiss as foolish preaching. The stress falls on God’s way of saving and on belief, not on impressive human reasoning.
04Different expectations, one proclaimed ChristPaul names two familiar expectations: Jews ask for signs and Greeks seek wisdom. Yet the Christian message remains the same: “we preach Christ crucified”.
Explanation
Paul names two familiar expectations: Jews ask for signs and Greeks seek wisdom. Yet the Christian message remains the same: “we preach Christ crucified”. That message becomes a stumbling block to some and foolishness to others, showing that people may reject it for different reasons.
05Christ as God’s power and wisdomFor those who are called, whether Jews or Greeks, Christ is recognised as God’s power and wisdom.
Explanation
For those who are called, whether Jews or Greeks, Christ is recognised as God’s power and wisdom. Paul closes with a comparison: even what people might call God’s foolishness is wiser than humans, and what they might call weakness is stronger than humans. God’s standard stands above human judgement.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01According to verse 18, what are the two very different ways people respond to “the word of the cross”?
Notice that Paul contrasts foolishness with the power of God, and connects these responses with those who are dying and those who are being saved.
02Why does Paul ask about the wise, the scribe, and the debater of this age?
Read verses 19 to 20 together and look for what God has done to the wisdom of this world.
03How does Paul describe Christ to those who are called?
Compare the reactions in verses 23 and 24, and pay attention to the exact words Paul uses for Christ.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
1 Corinthians 1:18–25
18For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are dying, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
19For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise. I will bring the discernment of the discerning to nothing.”
20Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Hasn’t God made foolish the wisdom of this world?
21For seeing that in the wisdom of God, the world through its wisdom didn’t know God, it was God’s good pleasure through the foolishness of the preaching to save those who believe.
22For Jews ask for signs, Greeks seek after wisdom,
23but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Greeks,
24but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ is 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.