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

16And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any other. 17For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not in wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made void. For the word of the cross is to them that are perishing foolishness; but unto us which are being saved it is the power of God. 19For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, And the prudence of the prudent will I reject. 20Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?

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

• Forγάρgar · forG1063
• theὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• wordλόγοςlogos · wordG3056
• crossσταυρόςstauros · crossG4716
• isεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• toθεόςtheos · GodG2316
• themἀπολλύωapollumi · to destroyG622
• foolishnessμωρίαmōria · foolishnessG3472
• butδέde · thenG1161
• savedσῴζωsōzō · to saveG4982
• powerδύναμιςdunamis · powerG1411

Cross-references for 1 Corinthians 1:18

• 1 Corinthians 1:23but we preach Christ crucified, unto Jews a stumblingblock, and unto Gentiles foolishness;
• 1 Corinthians 2:2For I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.
• Galatians 6:12As many as desire to make a fair show in the flesh, they compel you to be circumcised; only that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ.
• Acts 13:41Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish; For I work a work in your days, A work which ye shall in no wise believe, if one declare it unto you.
• 2 Corinthians 2:15For we are a sweet savour of Christ unto God, in them that are being saved, and in them that are perishing;
• 2 Corinthians 4:3But and if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled in them that are perishing:
• 2 Thessalonians 2:10and with all deceit of unrighteousness for them that are perishing; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
• 1 Corinthians 1:21For seeing that in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom knew not God, it was God’s good pleasure through the foolishness of the preaching to save them that believe.
• 1 Corinthians 2:14Now the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him; and he cannot know them, because they are spiritually judged.
• 1 Corinthians 3:19For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He that taketh the wise in their craftiness:
• Acts 17:18And certain also of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers encountered him. And some said, What would this babbler say? other some, He seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods: because he preached Jesus and the resurrection.
• 1 Corinthians 1:24but unto them that are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.
• 1 Corinthians 15:2by which also ye are saved; I make known, I say, in what words I preached it unto you, if ye hold it fast, except ye believed in vain.
• Psalms 110:2The LORD shall send forth the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies.
• Romans 1:16For I am not ashamed of the gospel: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
• 2 Corinthians 10:4(for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but mighty before God to the casting down of strong holds);

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
• Confirm
• Corinthians, First Epistle to the
• Cross
• Disputer
• Foolishness
• Household
• Join
• Preach
• Revelation of Christ

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