Bible Strands
1 Corinthians 1:18
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.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Paul writes to the Corinthian church to contrast human rhetorical wisdom with divine revelation. He makes this distinction immediately after clarifying his apostolic mission to preach the gospel rather than perform baptisms.
The words — λόγος (logos) translates literally as "message," while σταυροῦ (staurou) means "cross." Together they identify the crucifixion narrative as the specific content that divides perception.
The thread — This contrast recurs in 1 Corinthians 2:14, where unregenerated minds dismiss spiritual truth as foolishness, and in Romans 1:16, where the gospel operates as divine power for salvation. 2 Thessalonians 2:10 links the perishing condition to a refusal of the truth that would save them.
Why it lands — The text demands a reader to stop measuring divine revelation by human standards of wisdom. It requires accepting that the crucifixion either functions as God’s power or appears as nonsense, depending on the reader’s spiritual state.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
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.
Cross-references
- 1 Corinthians 2:14 The natural man does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God. For they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.
- Romans 1:16 I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, then to the Greek.
- 2 Thessalonians 2:10 and with every wicked deception directed against those who are perishing, because they refused the love of the truth that would have saved them.
- 1 Corinthians 1:23 but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles,
- 2 Corinthians 4:3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing.
- 1 Corinthians 1:21 For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know Him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.
- 2 Corinthians 2:15 For we are to God the sweet aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.
- 1 Corinthians 3:19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness.”
- 1 Thessalonians 1:5 because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power, in the Holy Spirit, and with great conviction—just as you know we lived among you for your sake.
- Acts 13:41 ‘Look, you scoffers, wonder and perish! For I am doing a work in your days that you would never believe, even if someone told you.’”