1 Corinthians 1:18 Study 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.

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◄ 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.

Study Bible

For the message of the cross
The phrase "the message of the cross" refers to the core of the Christian gospel, which is the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. In Greek, the word for "message" is "logos," which can also mean "word" or "reason." This highlights the centrality of the cross in Christian theology as the ultimate revelation of God's wisdom and love. Historically, the cross was a symbol of shame and execution in Roman times, yet for Christians, it became the symbol of salvation and victory over sin and death.

is foolishness
The Greek word for "foolishness" is "moria," from which we derive the English word "moron." To the Greek and Roman world, which valued wisdom and philosophical reasoning, the idea of a crucified savior was absurd. This reflects the counter-cultural nature of the gospel, which often defies human logic and wisdom. The cross challenges human pride and self-sufficiency, calling for humility and faith.

to those who are perishing
"Perishing" in Greek is "apollymenois," indicating a state of destruction or ruin. This refers to those who reject the gospel and are on a path leading away from eternal life. The Bible consistently contrasts the fate of the saved and the unsaved, emphasizing the urgency of accepting the gospel message. Historically, this division was evident in the early church's experience of persecution and rejection by the broader society.

but to us who are being saved
The phrase "being saved" uses the Greek "sozomenois," which is in the present continuous tense, indicating an ongoing process. Salvation in the Christian context is both a completed act through Christ's sacrifice and an ongoing journey of sanctification. This reflects the transformative power of the gospel in the believer's life, continually shaping and renewing them.

it is the power of God
The "power of God" in Greek is "dunamis," from which we get the word "dynamite." This signifies the explosive and transformative power inherent in the gospel. Unlike human power, which is often coercive and limited, God's power is redemptive and limitless. The cross, though a symbol of weakness to the world, is the ultimate demonstration of God's power to save, heal, and restore. This power is not just theoretical but is experienced in the lives of believers through the Holy Spirit, who empowers them to live out their faith.

Persons / Places / Events

1. Paul the Apostle
The author of 1 Corinthians, addressing the church in Corinth, a city known for its diversity and moral challenges.

2. The Church in Corinth
A Christian community in a cosmopolitan city, struggling with divisions and the influence of secular philosophies.

3. The Cross
Central to Christian faith, representing the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and the means of salvation.

4. Those Who Are Perishing
Refers to individuals who reject the gospel and are on a path to spiritual destruction.

5. Those Who Are Being Saved
Believers who accept the gospel and experience the transformative power of God.

Teaching Points

The Paradox of the Cross
The cross is a symbol of shame and defeat to the world but represents victory and salvation to believers.

The Power of God
The message of the cross is not just a historical event but an ongoing source of divine power for transformation and salvation.

Worldly Wisdom vs. Divine Wisdom
Human wisdom often fails to comprehend God's ways, which are revealed through the seemingly foolish message of the cross.

Identity in Christ
Believers find their identity and purpose in the power of the cross, which shapes their worldview and actions.

Evangelism and Witness
Understanding the cross as the power of God encourages believers to share the gospel boldly, despite it being perceived as foolishness by some.

Bible Study Questions

1. How does the message of the cross challenge the values and wisdom of the world today?

2. In what ways have you experienced the power of God through the message of the cross in your own life?

3. How can understanding the paradox of the cross help you in sharing your faith with others?

4. What are some practical ways to keep the message of the cross central in your daily life and decision-making?

5. How do the additional scriptures (Romans 1:16, 1 Peter 2:7-8, etc.) deepen your understanding of 1 Corinthians 1:18?

Connections to Other Scriptures

Romans 1:16
Paul speaks of the gospel as the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, highlighting the transformative power of the message of the cross.

1 Peter 2:7-8
Discusses how Christ is a cornerstone for believers but a stumbling block for those who reject Him, paralleling the idea of the cross being foolishness to some.

Galatians 6:14
Paul emphasizes boasting only in the cross of Christ, reinforcing its centrality and power in the believer's life.

Isaiah 53:3-5
Prophecy about the suffering servant, which is fulfilled in Christ's crucifixion, showing the perceived foolishness and actual power of the cross.

Philippians 3:18-19
Describes those who live as enemies of the cross, whose end is destruction, similar to those who are perishing in 1 Corinthians 1:18.

Sermons

Perishing or Being Saved	Alexander Maclaren	1 Corinthians 1:18
Salvation and Destruction Continuous Processes	A. Maclaren, D. D.	1 Corinthians 1:18
The Dispensation of the Gospel and its Effects	J. Lyth, D. D.	1 Corinthians 1:18
The Divinity of the Gospel is Demonstrated	J. Lyth, D. D.	1 Corinthians 1:18
The Doctrine of the Cross	J.R. Thomson	1 Corinthians 1:18
The Gospel not a Wisdom	Prof. Godet, D. D.	1 Corinthians 1:18
The Gospel the Power of God	J. H. Hinton, M. A.	1 Corinthians 1:18
The Preaching of the Cross	J. Lyth, D. D.	1 Corinthians 1:18
The Triumph of the Gospel Over the Wisdom of This World	J. Lyth, D. D.	1 Corinthians 1:18
The Word of the Cross	C. H. Spurgeon.	1 Corinthians 1:18
Two Classes of Gospel Hearers	D. Thomas, D. D.	1 Corinthians 1:18
Paul's Commission from Christ	R. Tuck	1 Corinthians 1:14-18
Man's Wisdom and God's	H. Bremne	1 Corinthians 1:17-25
The Preaching of the Cross	E. Hurndall	1 Corinthians 1:17-25
Paul's Preaching	J. Exells, D. D.	1 Corinthians 1:17-31
Paul's Preaching	W. M. Taylor, D. D.	1 Corinthians 1:17-31
Preaching	J. Baldwin Brown, B. A.	1 Corinthians 1:17-31
The Aim of the Ministry	C. H. Spurgeon.	1 Corinthians 1:17-31
The Cross Neutralised by Theories About It	Principal . Edwards.	1 Corinthians 1:17-31
The Cross of Christ of None Effect	S. Martin.	1 Corinthians 1:17-31
The Foolishness of Preaching	M. Dods, D. D.	1 Corinthians 1:17-31
The Gospel as Preached by Paul	A. J. F. Behrends, D. D.	1 Corinthians 1:17-31
The Gospel Neither Ritual nor Philosophy	J. Oswald Dykes, D. D.	1 Corinthians 1:17-31
The Preaching Which the Apostle Condemns as Ineffective	J. Lyth, D. D.	1 Corinthians 1:17-31
The True Minister of Christ	J. Lyth, D. D.	1 Corinthians 1:17-31
The True Work of the Preacher	H. W. Beecher.	1 Corinthians 1:17-31
The World's Greatest Blessing and its Greatest Evil	D. Thomas, D. D.	1 Corinthians 1:17-31
How St. Paul Regarded the Preaching of the Gospel	C. Lipscomb	1 Corinthians 1:18-31

People

Apollos, Cephas, Chloe, Corinthians, Crispus, Gaius, Paul, Peter, Sosthenes, Stephanas

Places

Corinth

Topics

Cross, Destruction, Dying, Folly, Foolish, Foolishness, God's, Indeed, Message, Perdition, Perish, Perishing, Power, Preaching, Salvation, Saved, Saving, Seems

Dictionary of Bible Themes

1 Corinthians 1:18

     1105   God, power of
     2324   Christ, as Saviour
     5815   confusion
     8756   folly, examples
     8760   fools, characteristics

1 Corinthians 1:17-18

     2414   cross, centrality
     7755   preaching, importance
     8426   evangelism, motivation

1 Corinthians 1:17-25

7703 apologetics
7757 preaching, effects

1 Corinthians 1:17-27

8366 wisdom, source of

1 Corinthians 1:18-21

1180 God, wisdom of

1 Corinthians 1:18-25

     1445   revelation, responses
     5441   philosophy
     7756   preaching, content
     8365   wisdom, human

1 Corinthians 1:18-31

5050 reason

Library

Father and Child
Eversley. 1861. 1 Cor. i. 4, 5, 7. "I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ. That in every thing ye are enriched by Him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge . . . So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ." This text is a very important one. It ought to teach me how I should treat you. It …
Charles Kingsley—All Saints' Day and Other Sermons

Eighteenth Sunday after Trinity Treasure Christians have in the Gospel.
Text: 1 Corinthians 1, 4-9. 4 I thank my God always concerning you, for the grace of God which was given you in Christ Jesus; 5 that in everything ye were enriched in him, in all utterance and all knowledge; 6 even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you: 7 so that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ; 8 who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye be unreprovable in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God is faithful, through whom ye were called …
Martin Luther—Epistle Sermons, Vol. III

Second Day. God's Provision for Holiness.
To those that are made holy in Christ Jesus, called to be holy.'--1 Cor. i. 2. 'To all the holy ones in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi. Salute every holy one in Christ Jesus.'[1]--Phil. i. 1, iv. 21. HOLY! IN CHRIST! In these two expressions we have perhaps the most wonderful words of all the Bible. HOLY! the word of unfathomable meaning, which the Seraphs utter with veiled faces. HOLY! the word in which all God's perfections centre, and of which His glory is but the streaming forth. …
Andrew Murray—Holy in Christ

Twenty-Second Day. In Christ Our Sanctification.
'Of God are ye in Christ Jesus, who was made unto us wisdom from God, both righteousness and sanctification and redemption; that, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.'--1 Cor. i. 30, 31. These words lead us on now to the very centre of God's revelation of the way of holiness. We know the steps of the road leading hither. He is holy, and holiness is His. He makes holy by coming near. His presence is holiness. In Christ's life, the holiness that had only been revealed …
Andrew Murray—Holy in Christ

Perishing or Being Saved
For the preaching of the Cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.'--1 COR. i. 18. The starting-point of my remarks is the observation that a slight variation of rendering, which will be found in the Revised Version, brings out the true meaning of these words. Instead of reading 'them that perish' and 'us which are saved,' we ought to read 'them that are perishing,' and 'us which are being saved.' That is to say, the Apostle represents the …
Alexander Maclaren—Romans, Corinthians (To II Corinthians, Chap. V)

Corinthians. Calling on the Name
'All that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours.'--1 COR. i. 2. There are some difficulties, with which I need not trouble you, about both the translation and the connection of these words. One thing is quite clear, that in them the Apostle associates the church at Corinth with the whole mass of Christian believers in the world. The question may arise whether he does so in the sense that he addresses his letter both to the church at Corinth and to the whole …
Alexander Maclaren—Romans, Corinthians (To II Corinthians, Chap. V)

The Wisdom of God in the Means Used to Propagate the Gospel.
"But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and god hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; and base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, and things which are not, to bring to nought things which are." * * The two discourses on this text were originally one, and preached before Windham Association, at Thompson, October Session, 1798. Probably some of the ideas which they contain, may have been …
Andrew Lee et al—Sermons on Various Important Subjects

Christ Crucified
Wisdom had had its time, and time enough; it had done its all, and that was little enough; it had made the world worse than it was before it stepped upon it, and "now," says God, "Foolishness shall overcome wisdom; now ignorance, as ye call it, shall sweep away science; now, humble, child-like faith shall crumble to the dust all the colossal systems your hands have piled." He calls his armies. Christ puts his trumpet to his mouth, and up come the warriors, clad in fishermen's garb, with the brogue …
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 1: 1855

The Fourfold Treasure
To-night we have before us a text which is extraordinarily comprehensive, and contains infinitely more of meaning than mind shall grasp, or tongue shall utter at this hour. Considering it carefully, let us observe, first, that the apostle here attributes the fact that we are in Christ Jesus to the Lord alone. He shows that there is a connection between our very being as Christians, and the love and grace of God in Christ. "Of him" (that is of God) "are ye in Christ Jesus." So we will first speak …
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 17: 1871

Christ --The Power and Wisdom of God
Now, this morning, we shall try to bring out these two thoughts of the gospel; and it may be that God shall bless what we shall say to the removing of the objection of either Jew or Greek; that the one requiring a sign may see it in the power of God in Christ, and that he who requireth wisdom may behold it in the wisdom of God in Christ. We shall understand our text in a threefold manner: Christ, that is, Christ personally, is "the power of God and the wisdom of God;" Christ, that is, Christ's gospel, …
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 3: 1857

Firm to the End.
(Eighteenth Sunday after Trinity.) 1 COR. i. 8. "Who also shall confirm you unto the end." Steadfastness is one of the most important characteristics of a Christian. Perhaps you will tell me that love, and self-denial, and patience, and faith are the chief marks of Christ's followers. And I answer that these things are useless without steadfastness. It will not avail us to be very loving, and self-sacrificing, and patient, and trustful for a little while, and then to fall away, and be selfish, …
H. J. Wilmot-Buxton—The Life of Duty, a Year's Plain Sermons, v. 2

The National Preacher.
Go ... Teach all Nations.... Matt. xxviii. 19. VOL. II. NEW-YORK, DECEMBER, 1827. NO. 7. SERMON XXVI. By AARON W. LELAND, D.D. CHARLESTON, S. CAROLINA. THE PURE GOSPEL REJECTED BY THE PERISHING. 1 COR. I. 18.--For the preaching of the cross is, to them that perish, foolishness. In the Christian revelation, there is an evident purpose of infinite wisdom, that in all the provisions for man's salvation, his moral agency should be left free and uncontrolled. Instead of accommodation to human …
Aaron W. Leland—The National Preacher, Vol. 2 No. 7 Dec. 1827

Good Friday, 1860
(Good Friday, 1860.) 1 Corinthians i. 23-25. But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumbling-block, and unto the Greeks foolishness; but unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men. The foolishness of God? The weakness of God? These are strange words. But they are St. Paul's words, not mine. If he had not said them first, I should not …
Charles Kingsley—Town and Country Sermons

The Introduction, with Some General Observations from the Cohesion.
Doubtless it is always useful, yea, necessary, for the children of God to know the right way of making use of Christ, who is made all things to them which they need, even "wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption," 1 Cor. i. 30. But it is never more necessary for believers to be clear and distinct in this matter, than when Satan, by all means, is seeking to pervert the right ways of the Lord, and, one way or other, to lead souls away, and draw them off Christ; knowing that, if he prevail …
John Brown (of Wamphray)—Christ The Way, The Truth, and The Life

How Christ is to be Made Use Of, as the Way, for Sanctification in General.
Having shown how a poor soul, lying under the burden of sin and wrath, is to make use of Jesus Christ for righteousness and justification, and so to make use of him, go out to him, and apply him, as "he is made of God to us righteousness," 1 Cor. i. 30, and that but briefly. This whole great business being more fully and satisfactorily handled, in that forementioned great, though small treatise, viz. "The Christian's Great Interest," we shall now come and show, how a believer or a justified soul …
John Brown (of Wamphray)—Christ The Way, The Truth, and The Life

With How Great Reverence Christ must be Received
The Voice of the Disciple These are Thy words, O Christ, Eternal Truth; though not uttered at one time nor written together in one place of Scripture. Because therefore they are Thy words and true, I must gratefully and faithfully receive them all. They are Thine, and Thou hast uttered them; and they are mine also, because Thou didst speak them for my salvation. Gladly I receive them from Thy mouth, that they may be more deeply implanted in my heart. Words of such great grace arouse me, for they …
Thomas A Kempis—Imitation of Christ

Of the Effects of those Prerogatives.
From these prerogatives there will arise to the elect in heaven, five notable effects:-- 1. They shall know God with a perfect knowledge (1 Cor. i. 10), so far as creatures can possibly comprehend the Creator. For there we shall see the Word, the Creator; and in the Word, all creatures that by the Word were created; so that we shall not need to learn (of the things which were made) the knowledge of him by whom all things were made. The most excellent creatures in this life, are but as a dark veil …
Lewis Bayly—The Practice of Piety

Sanctification.
"Of Him ye are in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption."--1 Cor. i. 30. Sanctification is one of the most glorious gifts which, by the Covenant of Grace, the Mediator bestows upon the saint. It covers his entire mental, spiritual, and physical nature. We should, therefore, thoroughly understand it, and learn how to obtain it, and every believer, whatever the measure of his faith, should be fully aware of his attitude toward it; for …
Abraham Kuyper—The Work of the Holy Spirit

Christ Our Sanctification.
"Christ Jesus who of God is made unto us...sanctification."--1 Cor. i. 30. The redeemed soul possesses all things in Christ. He is a complete Savior. He lacks nothing. Having Him we are saved to the uttermost; without Him we are utterly lost and undone. We must earnestly maintain this point, especially with reference to sanctification; and repeat with increasing clearness that Christ is given us of God not only for wisdom and righteousness, but also for sanctification. It reads distinctly that Christ …
Abraham Kuyper—The Work of the Holy Spirit

The Joyful Sound
C. P. C. I Cor. i. 23, 24 O that Thy Name may be sounded Afar over earth and sea, Till the dead awaken and praise Thee, And the dumb lips sing to Thee! Sound forth as a song of triumph Wherever man's foot has trod, The despised, the derided message, The foolishness of God. Jesus, dishonoured and dying, A felon on either side-- Jesus, the song of the drunkards, Jesus the Crucified! Name of God's tender comfort, Name of His glorious power, Name that is song and sweetness, The strong everlasting tower. …
Frances Bevan—Hymns of Ter Steegen, Suso, and Others

Christian Churches.
The large number of churches in Rome.--The six classes of the earliest of these.--I. Private oratories.--The houses of Pudens and Prisca.--The evolution of the church from the private house.--II. Scholae.--The memorial services and banquets of the pagans.--Two extant specimens of early Christian scholae.--That in the Cemetery of Callixtus.--III. Oratories and churches built over the tombs of martyrs and confessors.--How they came to be built.--These the originals of the greatest sanctuaries of modern …
Rodolfo Lanciani—Pagan and Christian Rome

St. Augustine (Ad 354-430)
PART I The church in the north of Africa has hardly been mentioned since the time of St. Cyprian (Chapter VIII). But we must now look towards it again, since in the days of St. Chrysostom it produced a man who was perhaps the greatest of all the old Christian fathers--St. Augustine. Augustine was born at Thagaste, a city of Numidia, in the year 354. His mother, Monica, was a pious Christian, but his father, Patricius, was a heathen, and a man of no very good character. Monica was resolved to bring …
J. C. Roberston—Sketches of Church History, from AD 33 to the Reformation

Additional Introduction.
Towards the close of 1875, at Constantinople, Philotheus Bryennius, Metropolitan of Serræ, published the first complete edition of the epistles ascribed to Clement. This he was enabled to do by the discovery of a ms. in the library of the Holy Sepulchre at Fanari in Constantinople. This ms., of vellum, consists of one hundred and twenty leaves in small octavo, nearly seven and a half inches in length and six in breadth. The ms. bears the date 1056, and was written by one Leo. Its contents …
Rev. John Keith, D.D.—The Epistles of Clement

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