1 Corinthians 1:18

The message of the cross is indeed mere folly to those who are on the path to ruin, but to us who are on the path of salvation it is the power of God.

Open English Bible (US)

In The King James Version

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

In Context

17My mission from Christ was not to baptize, but to tell the good news; not, however, in the language of philosophy, in case the cross of the Christ should be robbed of its meaning.

19For scripture says – ‘I will bring the philosophy of the philosophers to naught, and the shrewdness of the shrewd I will bring to nothing.’

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Cross References

Acts 2:47And the Lord daily added to their company those who were in the path of salvation.

Acts 17:18Among others, some Epicurean and Stoic Philosophers joined issue with him. Some asked “What is this prater wanting to make out?”, while others said “He seems to be a preacher of foreign Deities.” (This was because he was telling the good news about Jesus and the resurrection).

Romans 1:16For I am not ashamed of the good news; it is the power of God which brings salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first, but also to the Greek.

1 Corinthians 1:23we are proclaiming Christ crucified! – to the Jews an obstacle, to the Gentiles mere folly,

1 Corinthians 2:14The merely intellectual person rejects the teaching of the Spirit of God; for to them it is mere folly; they cannot grasp it, because it is to be understood only by spiritual insight.

1 Corinthians 15:2and by means of which you are being saved. I would like to remind you of the words that I used in telling it to you, since you are still holding fast to it, and since it was not in vain that you became believers in Christ.

Matthew Henry on 1 Corinthians 1:18-31

The Efficacy of the Gospel; The Character of the Gospel. ( a. d. 57.) 17 For 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. 18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. 20 Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the… Read the whole commentary →

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