Bible Strands
1 Corinthians 1:23
but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles,
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The apostle Paul addresses the Corinthian church, contrasting the divided expectations of his audience against the unified message he delivers. He speaks this declaration immediately after noting that Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks pursue philosophical wisdom.
The words — κηρύσσομεν (kērussomen) translates literally to "we preach" or "we herald," emphasizing a public proclamation. σκάνδαλον (skandalon) means "a stumbling block," denoting an obstacle that causes someone to trip or fall away.
The thread — This proclamation echoes Paul’s earlier resolution to know nothing among the Corinthians except Jesus Christ crucified (1 Corinthians 2:2). The concept of Christ as a stumbling stone also appears in 1 Peter 2:8, where disobedience to the word is cited as the cause of the stumble.
Why it lands — The text demands that readers acknowledge the message of a crucified Messiah as the non-negotiable core of the gospel. It requires accepting that divine revelation will actively conflict with human religious expectations and cultural wisdom.
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
But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;
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.
- 1 Corinthians 2:2 For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.
- 1 Peter 2:8 and, “A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense.” They stumble because they disobey the word—and to this they were appointed.
- Isaiah 8:14 And He will be a sanctuary—but to both houses of Israel a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense, to the dwellers of Jerusalem a trap and a snare.
- Galatians 5:11 Now, brothers, if I am still preaching circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been abolished.
- 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.
- Matthew 11:6 Blessed is the one who does not fall away on account of Me.”
- Luke 2:34 Then Simeon blessed them and said to His mother Mary: “Behold, this Child is appointed to cause the rise and fall of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against,
- Matthew 13:57 And they took offense at Him. But Jesus said to them, “Only in his hometown and in his own household is a prophet without honor.”
- John 6:53 So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I tell you, unless you eat the flesh and drink the blood of the Son of Man, you have no life in you.