1 Corinthians 1:18
New International Version
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.

New Living Translation
The message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction! But we who are being saved know it is the very power of God.

English Standard Version
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.

Berean Standard Bible
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 Literal Bible
For the message of the cross is foolishness to those indeed perishing, but to us being saved it is the power of God.

King James Bible
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 King James Version
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.

New American Standard Bible
For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

NASB 1995
For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

NASB 1977
For the word of the cross is to those who are perishing foolishness, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

Legacy Standard Bible
For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved, it is the power of God.

Amplified Bible
For the message of the cross is foolishness [absurd and illogical] to those who are perishing and spiritually dead [because they reject it], but to us who are being saved [by God’s grace] it is [the manifestation of] the power of God.

Christian Standard Bible
For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but it is the power of God to us who are being saved.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but it is God’s power to us who are being saved.

American Standard Version
For the word of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us who are saved it is the power of God.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
The message of the crucifixion is insanity to the lost, but to those of us who have life it is the power of God.

Contemporary English Version
The message about the cross doesn't make any sense to lost people. But for those of us who are being saved, it is God's power at work.

Douay-Rheims Bible
For the word of the cross, to them indeed that perish, is foolishness; but to them that are saved, that is, to us, it is the power of God.

English Revised Version
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.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The message about the cross is nonsense to those who are being destroyed, but it is God's power to us who are being saved.

Good News Translation
For the message about Christ's death on the cross is nonsense to those who are being lost; but for us who are being saved it is God's power.

International Standard Version
For the message about the cross is nonsense to those who are being destroyed, but it is God's power to us who are being saved.

Literal Standard Version
for the word of the Cross to those indeed perishing is foolishness, and to us—those being saved—it is the power of God,

Majority Standard Bible
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.

New American Bible
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.

NET Bible
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.

New Revised Standard Version
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.

New Heart English Bible
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.

Webster's Bible Translation
For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish, foolishness; but to us who are saved, it is the power of God.

Weymouth New Testament
For the Message of the Cross is foolishness to those who are on the way to perdition, but it is the power of God to those whom He is saving.

World English Bible
For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are dying, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

Young's Literal Translation
for the word of the cross to those indeed perishing is foolishness, and to us -- those being saved -- it is the power of God,

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Message of the Cross
17For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with words of wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power. 18For 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. 19For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”…

Cross References
Acts 2:47
praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

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.

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.

1 Corinthians 1:23
but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles,

1 Corinthians 1:24
but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.

1 Corinthians 1:25
For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength.

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.


Treasury of Scripture

For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but to us which are saved it is the power of God.

the preaching.

1 Corinthians 1:23,24
But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; …

1 Corinthians 2:2
For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.

Galatians 6:12-14
As many as desire to make a fair shew in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised; only lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ…

to.

Acts 13:41
Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish: for I work a work in your days, a work which ye shall in no wise believe, though a man declare it unto you.

2 Corinthians 2:15,16
For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish: …

2 Corinthians 4:3
But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:

foolishness.

1 Corinthians 1:21,23,25
For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe…

1 Corinthians 2:14
But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

1 Corinthians 3:19
For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.

unto.

1 Corinthians 1:24
But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.

1 Corinthians 15:2
By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.

Psalm 110:2,3
The LORD shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies…

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Cross Destruction Dying Folly Foolish Foolishness God's Indeed Message Perdition Perish Perishing Power Preaching Salvation Saved Saving Seems Way Word
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Cross Destruction Dying Folly Foolish Foolishness God's Indeed Message Perdition Perish Perishing Power Preaching Salvation Saved Saving Seems Way Word
1 Corinthians 1
1. After his salutation and thanksgiving for the Corinthians,
10. Paul exhorts them to unity,
12. and reproves their dissensions.
18. God destroys the wisdom of the wise,
21. by the foolishness of preaching;
26. and calls not the wise, mighty, and noble,
28. but the foolish, weak, and men of no account.














(18) For the preaching.--In the original the contrast comes out more strongly between this and the previous statement, the same phrase being repeated, thus, "For the word of the cross," in contrast to "the wisdom of more words" above. This is the word of real power.

Them that perish.--Better, those that are perishing, and us who are being saved, the former referring to those who have not received the gospel, and the latter to those who have (2Corinthians 2:15; 2Corinthians 4:3).

The power of God.--The cross and all that it represents is the greatest display of the power of God (Acts 8:10).

Verses 18-25. - The nature of true Christian preaching. Verse 18. - For the preaching of the cross; rather, the word of the cross. To them that are perishing; rather, to the perishing; to all those who are now walking in the paths that lead to destruction (2 Corinthians 2:15). To them it was foolishness, because it requires spiritual discernment (1 Corinthians 2:14); and, on the other hand, human wisdom is foolishness with God (1 Corinthians 3:19). Foolishness. It shows the heroic character of the faith of St. Paul that he deliberately preached the doctrine of the cross because he felt that therein lay the conversion and salvation of the world, although he was well aware that he could preach no truth so certain at first to revolt the unregenerate hearts of his hearers. To the Jews "the cross" was the tree of shame and horror; and a crucified person was "accursed of God" (Deuteronomy 21:23; Galatians 3:13). To the Greeks the cross was the gibbet of a slave's infamy and a murderer's punishment. There was not a single association connected with it except those of shame and agony. The thought of "a crucified Messiah" seemed to the Jews a revolting folly; the worship of a crucified malefactor seemed to the Greeks "an execrable superstition" (Tacitus, 'Ann.,' 15:44; Pliny, 'Epp.' 10:97); yet so little did St. Paul seek for popularity or immediate success, that this was the very doctrine which he put in the forefront, even at a city so refined and so voluptuous as Corinth. And the result proved his inspired wisdom. That very cross became the recognized badge of Christianity, and when three centuries had elapsed it was woven in gold upon the banners and set in jewels on the diadems of the Roman empire. For had not Christ prophesied, And I, if I be lifted up, will draw all men unto me"? Unto us which are being saved; who are on the way of salvation. The same present participle is used in Luke 13:23; Acts 2:47; 2 Corinthians 2:15; Revelation 21:24. It is the power of God. Because the cross is at the heart of that gospel which is "the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth" (Romans 1:16; Romans 8:3), though many were tempted to be ashamed of it. It could never be a carnal weapon of warfare, and yet was mighty for every purpose (2 Corinthians 10:4, 5).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
For
γὰρ (gar)
Conjunction
Strong's 1063: For. A primary particle; properly, assigning a reason.

the
(Ho)
Article - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

message
λόγος (logos)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3056: From lego; something said; by implication, a topic, also reasoning or motive; by extension, a computation; specially, the Divine Expression.

of the
τοῦ (tou)
Article - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

cross
σταυροῦ (staurou)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 4716: A cross.

is
ἐστίν (estin)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1510: I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.

foolishness
μωρία (mōria)
Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3472: Folly, absurdity, foolishness. From moros; silliness, i.e. Absurdity.

to those who
τοῖς (tois)
Article - Dative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

are perishing,
ἀπολλυμένοις (apollymenois)
Verb - Present Participle Middle or Passive - Dative Masculine Plural
Strong's 622: From apo and the base of olethros; to destroy fully, literally or figuratively.

but
δὲ (de)
Conjunction
Strong's 1161: A primary particle; but, and, etc.

to us who
ἡμῖν (hēmin)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 1st Person Plural
Strong's 1473: I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.

are being saved
σῳζομένοις (sōzomenois)
Verb - Present Participle Middle or Passive - Dative Masculine Plural
Strong's 4982: To save, heal, preserve, rescue. From a primary sos; to save, i.e. Deliver or protect.

it is
ἐστιν (estin)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1510: I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.

[the] power
δύναμις (dynamis)
Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 1411: From dunamai; force; specially, miraculous power.

of God.
Θεοῦ (Theou)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 2316: A deity, especially the supreme Divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very.


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NT Letters: 1 Corinthians 1:18 For the word of the cross (1 Cor. 1C iC 1Cor i cor icor)
1 Corinthians 1:17
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