1 Corinthians 1:18 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.

1 Corinthians 1:18 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.

1 Corinthians 1:18 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.

1 Corinthians 1:18 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.

1 Corinthians 1:18 nlt

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.

1 Corinthians 1 verses

1 Corinthians 1 18 Meaning

The message concerning Christ's crucifixion, the central act of God's redemptive plan, is perceived fundamentally differently based on one's spiritual state. For those who remain in rebellion against God and are heading towards eternal destruction, this divine truth appears nonsensical, absurd, and weak. However, for those who, by God's grace, are being drawn into salvation and spiritual transformation, the very same message reveals itself as the supreme and powerful work of God, demonstrating His wisdom and ability to deliver humanity.

1 Corinthians 1 18 Context

First Corinthians addresses severe problems within the Corinthian church, including divisions, immorality, lawsuits, and issues concerning spiritual gifts. In chapters 1 and 2, Paul confronts their misplaced pride in human wisdom and rhetoric, which was leading to factionalism and an inability to grasp spiritual truths. Corinth, a prominent Roman city, was a hub of commerce, Hellenistic philosophy, and varied cultic practices. Its inhabitants prided themselves on intellectual discourse and oratorical skill. Paul deliberately contrasts human wisdom and philosophical speculation with the "foolishness" of God, epitomized by the message of a crucified Messiah. For a culture that valued strength, wisdom, and glory, the idea of a Messiah executed as a criminal on a cross was not only offensive to Jews seeking a powerful kingly sign but utterly absurd (μωρία - moria, literally "foolishness") to the philosophical Greeks. This verse serves as the foundational paradox Paul uses to reorient their understanding: God's true power and wisdom are manifested in what the world deems weak and illogical.

1 Corinthians 1 18 Word analysis

• For: (Greek: Gar - γάρ) Connects this statement to the preceding verses (1 Cor 1:17), explaining why Paul's preaching was "not with persuasive words of human wisdom but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power." It grounds his method in the nature of the gospel itself.
• the message: (Greek: Logos - λόγος) Refers to a word, a teaching, a doctrine, or an account. Here, it denotes the full content and proclamation of the Gospel. It’s not just an event but a comprehensive truth.
• of the cross: (Greek: tou staurou - τοῦ σταυροῦ) This is a genitive of relationship. "The cross" refers to Christ's crucifixion, representing the sum total of His atoning death, resurrection, and the implications of His self-sacrifice. It signifies the core of Christian theology: divine love, substitutionary atonement, reconciliation, and victory over sin and death. In the Roman world, crucifixion was a symbol of shame, weakness, and curse, making its centrality in the Gospel a shocking paradox.
• is foolishness: (Greek: moria - μωρία) Meaning "folly," "absurdity," or "silliness." It describes a complete lack of sense or wisdom, not merely a disagreement but a perception of outright irrationality. This term is deliberately chosen by Paul to highlight the radical difference between God's wisdom and human wisdom (1 Cor 1:25).
• to those who are perishing: (Greek: apollymenois - ἀπολλυμένοις) A present passive participle. "Perishing" signifies a continuous process of ruin, loss, and movement toward eternal destruction, not merely a future event. It implies a state of being already caught in a trajectory leading to death and judgment due to alienation from God.
• but to us: Introduces a sharp contrast in perception and spiritual state.
• who are being saved: (Greek: sōzomenois - σῳζομένοις) A present passive participle, paralleling "perishing." It denotes an ongoing process of salvation—being continually rescued, delivered, and transformed by God's power through Christ. It includes initial conversion, progressive sanctification, and ultimate glorification.
• it is the power: (Greek: dynamis - δύναμις) Refers to inherent ability, strength, miraculous power. It stands in direct antithesis to "foolishness." The seemingly weak act of the cross is revealed as the very source of God's mightiest work: salvation.
• of God: (Greek: Theou - Θεοῦ) Attributes the dynamis directly to God. This power originates from Him and achieves His divine purpose, utterly surpassing any human strength or wisdom.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• For the message of the cross: This phrase encapsulates the core Christian proclamation. It's not a generic message about spirituality or morality but one specifically centered on the ignominious, yet divinely purposed, death of Jesus Christ on a cross. This immediately establishes the unique, non-negotiable, and scandalous nature of the Gospel.
• is foolishness to those who are perishing: This stark declaration reveals the world's natural spiritual blindness. Those outside of God's salvific work, characterized by their continuous trajectory towards ruin, cannot comprehend the divine logic of the cross. They find it irrational because it challenges their reliance on human wisdom, self-effort, and conventional power structures. It highlights the natural human opposition to God's ways.
• but to us who are being saved: This phrase marks the sharp bifurcation. It points to a redeemed community, set apart by grace. "Being saved" emphasizes not just a past event but an ongoing process of spiritual transformation and preservation by God. This continuous aspect speaks to the daily experience of faith and growth in the believer's life.
• it is the power of God: This climax of the verse underscores the supernatural reality of the Gospel. What is folly to some is a tangible, effective, divine power to others. This power enables conviction, repentance, faith, spiritual renewal, and ultimately, eternal life. It reveals God's omnipotent capability acting through an seemingly weak means, demonstrating that His strength is perfected in weakness.

1 Corinthians 1 18 Bonus section

This verse subtly introduces Paul's recurring theme of "God's foolishness is wiser than human wisdom" and "God's weakness is stronger than human strength" (1 Cor 1:25). It anticipates his argument that God deliberately chooses the weak, despised, and foolish things of the world to shame the wise and the strong (1 Cor 1:27-28), ensuring that no human can boast before Him. The message of the cross acts as an eschatological litmus test, revealing who belongs to the kingdom of light and who remains in darkness, progressing towards final judgment. It challenges not only the Greek intellectualism but also the Jewish expectation of a conquering Messiah, showing that God's power is manifest not in a demonstration of earthly might, but in humble self-sacrifice.

1 Corinthians 1 18 Commentary

First Corinthians 1:18 forms the bedrock for Paul's discourse on divine wisdom versus human wisdom in the Corinthian letter. It lays out a profound spiritual truth: the Gospel's message is not universally understood or accepted in the same way. The message of Christ crucified, with all its implications for sin, redemption, and a humble King, stands as a critical dividing line. To the unbelieving world, which values self-sufficiency, intellectual prowess, or tangible power, a God-man dying on a cross appears utterly contradictory and contemptible. This perception isn't merely intellectual disagreement but spiritual blindness; their trajectory towards perishing hinders any true grasp of divine revelation.

Conversely, for those whom God is drawing into salvation, this same message is experienced as nothing less than the dynamic, effective, life-changing power of God. It's through the cross that God’s righteousness is demonstrated, His wrath appeased, and reconciliation achieved. The "foolishness" of the cross, from a human perspective, reveals the boundless, paradoxical wisdom and omnipotence of God working beyond human expectation. It subverts worldly notions of strength, beauty, and achievement, presenting God’s means of salvation through what seems like weakness. This ongoing reception of the cross's power underscores the continuous work of the Holy Spirit in a believer's life, guiding them deeper into sanctification and revealing the glory of God's redemptive plan.

For practical application, consider:

• Differing reactions: When sharing the Gospel, expect varying reactions; some will embrace it, others will dismiss it as absurd. This verse prepares us for such responses, reminding us that it reveals a spiritual state.
• Paradox of strength: We often seek strength in human wisdom, systems, or resources. This verse calls us to embrace the "foolishness" of Christ's cross as the true source of divine power in all aspects of life, recognizing God's ways are higher.