1 Corinthians 1:18

The Message of the Cross is indeed mere folly to those who are in the path to Ruin, but to us who are in the path of Salvation it is the very power of God.

Twentieth Century New Testament

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, lest the cross of the Christ should be robbed of its meaning.

19For Scripture says — ‘I will bring the philosophy of the philosophers to nought, and the shrewdness of the shrewd I will make of no account.’

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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 would ask “What is this prater wanting to make out?”, while others would say “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 every one who believes in Christ, 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 man rejects the teaching of the Spirit of God; for to him it is mere folly; he 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 remind you of the very 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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