1 Corinthians 1:18

1 Corinthians 1:18 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
• New International Version (NIV)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.
• English Standard Version (ESV)For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
• New King James Version (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.

Context of 1 Corinthians 1:18

16(I also baptized the household of Stephanus. Otherwise, I do not remember whether I baptized anyone else.) 17For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel – and not with clever speech, so that the cross of Christ would not become useless. For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, 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, and I will thwart the cleverness of the intelligent.” 20Where is the wise man? Where is the expert in the Mosaic law? Where is the debater of this age? Has God not made the wisdom of the world foolish?

1 Corinthians 1:18 word by word

Ὁ λόγος γὰρ ὁ τοῦ σταυροῦ τοῖς μὲν ἀπολλυμένοις μωρία ἐστίν, τοῖς δὲ σῳζομένοις ἡμῖν δύναμις θεοῦ ἐστιν.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Forγάρgar · forG1063
• the preachingλόγοςlogos · wordG3056
• of the crossσταυρόςstauros · crossG4716
• isεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• that perishἀπολλύωapollumi · to destroyG622
• ·μένmen · on the other handG3303
• foolishnessμωρίαmōria · foolishnessG3472
• butδέde · thenG1161
• unto usἐγώegō · I/weG1473
• which are savedσῴζωsōzō · to saveG4982
• the powerδύναμιςdunamis · powerG1411
• of Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316

Cross-references for 1 Corinthians 1:18

• 1 Corinthians 1:23but we preach about a crucified Christ, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles.
• 1 Corinthians 2:2For I decided to be concerned about nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and him crucified.
• Galatians 6:12Those who want to make a good showing in external matters are trying to force you to be circumcised. They do so only to avoid being persecuted for the cross of Christ.
• Acts 13:41‘Look, you scoffers; be amazed and perish! For I am doing a work in your days, a work you would never believe, even if someone tells you.’”
• 2 Corinthians 2:15For we are a sweet aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing –
• 2 Corinthians 4:3But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled only to those who are perishing,
• 2 Thessalonians 2:10and with every kind of evil deception directed against those who are perishing, because they found no place in their hearts for the truth so as to be saved.
• 1 Corinthians 1:21For since in the wisdom of God the world by its wisdom did not know God, God was pleased to save those who believe by the foolishness of preaching.
• 1 Corinthians 2:14The unbeliever does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him. And he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.
• 1 Corinthians 3:19For the wisdom of this age is foolishness with God. As it is written, “He catches the wise in their craftiness.”
• Acts 17:18Also some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers were conversing with him, and some were asking, “What does this foolish babbler want to say?” Others said, “He seems to be a proclaimer of foreign gods.” (They said this because he was proclaiming the good news about Jesus and the resurrection.)
• 1 Corinthians 1:24But to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God.
• 1 Corinthians 15:2and by which you are being saved, if you hold firmly to the message I preached to you – unless you believed in vain.
• Psalms 110:2The Lord extends your dominion from Zion. Rule in the midst of your enemies!
• Romans 1:16For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is God’s power for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
• 2 Corinthians 10:4for the weapons of our warfare are not human weapons, but are made powerful by God for tearing down strongholds. We tear down arguments

Commentaries on 1 Corinthians 1:18

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 18For the preaching of the cross - ̔ ̔ , The doctrine of the cross; or the doctrine that is of or concerning the cross; that is, the doctrine that proclaims salvation to a lost world through the crucifixion of Christ. Is to them that perish foolishness - There are, properly speaking, but two classes of men known where the Gospel is preached: , the unbelievers and gainsayers, who are perishing; and , the obedient believers, who are in a state of salvation…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 18For the preaching of the cross - Greek, “the word ( ̔ ́ ho logos) of the cross;” that is, the doctrine of the cross; or the doctrine which proclaims salvation only through the atonement which the Lord Jesus Christ made on the cross, This cannot mean that the statement that Christ died “as a martyr” on a cross, appears to be foolishness to people; because, if that was all, there would be nothing that would appear contemptible, or that would excite their…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 17-25Verses 17-25 Paul had been bred up in Jewish learning; but the plain preaching of a crucified Jesus, was more powerful than all the oratory and philosophy of the heathen world. This is the sum and substance of the gospel. Christ crucified is the foundation of all our hopes, the fountain of all our joys. And by his death we live. The preaching of salvation for lost sinners by the sufferings and death of the Son of God, if explained and faithfully applied…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 18To unbelievers, the idea that God saves the world through a condemned criminal seems foolish because they cannot see the truth (2 Corinthians 4:4). For believers, whom God has enlightened, the message of the cross feels true, and they recognize its power to touch the human heart (see 1 Corinthians 1:23–24; Romans 1:16). Unbelievers, still in their sins, are heading towards destruction and ultimate condemnation. Believers, whose sins are forgiven, are…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1818. preaching, &c.--literally, "the word," or speech as to the cross; in contrast to the "wisdom of words" (so called), 1Co 1:17. them that perish--rather, "them that are perishing," namely, by preferring human "wisdom of words" to the doctrine of the "cross of Christ." It is not the final state that is referred to; but, "them that are in the way of perishing." So also in 2Co 2:15, 16. us which are saved--In the Greek the collocation is more modest, "to…Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Corinthians 1:18

• Atonement
• Blindness
• Boasting
• Cross
• Gospel
• Jesus Continued
• Jesus, the Christ
• Power
• Preaching
• Reasoning
• Salvation
• Suffering
• Unbelief
• Wisdom
• Word of God

In the dictionaries

• God
• god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry
• Confirm
• Corinthians, First Epistle to the
• Cross
• Disputer
• Foolishness
• Household
• Join
• Preach

Commentaries on 1 Corinthians 1

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings