the Week of Proper 28 / Ordinary 33
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New King James Version
1 Corinthians 1:18
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The teaching about the cross seems foolish to those who are lost. But to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
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.
For ye preachinge of the crosse is to them yt perisshe folishnes: but vnto vs which are saved it is ye power of God.
For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are dying, but to us who are saved it is the power of God.
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.Acts 17:18; Romans 1:16; 1 Corinthians 1:24; 2:14; 15:2; 2 Corinthians 2:15;">[xr]
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.
The teaching about the cross is foolishness to those who are being lost, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
For the word of the cross is to those that perish foolishness; but to us who are saved it is the power of God.
For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish, foolishness; but to us who are saved, it is the power of God.
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.
For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are dying, but to us who are saved it is the power of God.
For the doctrine of the cross is indeed to them that perish foolishness; but to us who are saved, it is the power of God.
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.
For the word of the cros is foli to hem that perischen; but to hem that ben maad saaf, that is to seie, to vs, it is the vertu of God.
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.
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.
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.
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.
For the word of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us who are saved it is the power of God.
For the word of the cross seems foolish to those who are on the way to destruction; but to us who are on the way to salvation it is the power of God.
For the message about the execution-stake is nonsense to those in the process of being destroyed, but to us in the process of being saved it is the power of God.
For the word of the cross is to them that perish foolishness, but to us that are saved it is God's power.
FOR the doctrine of the cross to those who perish is foolishness, but to us who are saved it is the power of Aloha.
For a discourse concerning the cross is, to them who perish, foolishness; but to us who live, it is the energy of God.
For the preaching of the Crosse is to them that perish, foolishnesse: but vnto vs which are saued, it is the power of God.
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.
Preaching about the cross sounds foolish to those who are dying in sin. But it is the power of God to those of us who are being saved from the punishment of sin.
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.
For that preaching of the crosse is to them that perish, foolishnesse: but vnto vs, which are saued, it is the power of God.
For the preaching of the cross * to those who have gone astray is foolishness; but to us who are saved it is the power of God.
For, the discourse which concerneth the cross, unto them, indeed, who are perishing, is, foolishness; but, unto them who are being saved - unto us, it is, God's power.
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.
For the preachyng of the crosse, is to them that perishe foolishnesse: but vnto vs which are saued, it is the power of God.
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.
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.
For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
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.
For the Word of the cross is foolishness to those being lost, but to us being saved, it is the power of God.
for the word of the cross to those indeed perishing is foolishness, and to us -- those being saved -- it is the power of God,
For the worde of ye crosse is foolishnesse to the that perishe but vnto vs which are saued, it is the power of God.
For tho' the doctrine of the cross seems folly to those that perish: yet we that are to be saved, do feel its energy is divine.
The Message that points to Christ on the Cross seems like sheer silliness to those hellbent on destruction, but for those on the way of salvation it makes perfect sense. This is the way God works, and most powerfully as it turns out. It's written, I'll turn conventional wisdom on its head, I'll expose so-called experts as crackpots. So where can you find someone truly wise, truly educated, truly intelligent in this day and age? Hasn't God exposed it all as pretentious nonsense? Since the world in all its fancy wisdom never had a clue when it came to knowing God, God in his wisdom took delight in using what the world considered dumb—preaching, of all things!—to bring those who trust him into the way of salvation.
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.
Jesus's message from the cross is folly to those heading for the kill-truck. But those of us who will ride in the green grass forever, we know the cross is the power of God.
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.
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.
Contextual Overview
Bible Verse Review
from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge
the preaching: 1 Corinthians 1:23, 1 Corinthians 1:24, 1 Corinthians 2:2, Galatians 6:12-14
to: Acts 13:41, 2 Corinthians 2:15, 2 Corinthians 2:16, 2 Corinthians 4:3, 2 Thessalonians 2:10
foolishness: 1 Corinthians 1:21, 1 Corinthians 1:23, 1 Corinthians 1:25, 1 Corinthians 2:14, 1 Corinthians 3:19, Acts 17:18, Acts 17:32
unto: 1 Corinthians 1:24, 1 Corinthians 15:2, Psalms 110:2, Psalms 110:3, Romans 1:16, 2 Corinthians 10:4, 1 Thessalonians 1:5, Hebrews 4:12
Reciprocal: Exodus 15:25 - a tree 2 Kings 2:21 - I have healed 2 Kings 13:17 - The arrow Isaiah 28:20 - the bed Isaiah 53:1 - the Isaiah 55:11 - shall my Jeremiah 8:9 - lo Zechariah 9:15 - subdue Matthew 6:23 - If Matthew 11:25 - because John 3:4 - How John 3:15 - not Acts 17:20 - strange Romans 10:17 - faith 1 Corinthians 2:6 - not 1 Corinthians 3:18 - If 1 Corinthians 4:10 - are fools Galatians 5:11 - the offence Philippians 3:18 - enemies 2 Timothy 1:9 - hath Revelation 14:3 - no
Cross-References
Its rising is from one end of heaven, And its circuit to the other end; And there is nothing hidden from its heat.
Thus says the LORD, Who gives the sun for a light by day, The ordinances of the moon and the stars for a light by night, Who disturbs the sea, And its waves roar (The LORD of hosts is His name):
Gill's Notes on the Bible
For the preaching of the cross,.... Not of the Christian's cross, which he is to take up and bear for the sake of Christ; though this is a doctrine taught by Christ, and his apostles, and found to be true by the saints in all ages; and is what is had in great aversion and contempt, being very disagreeable to the natural man: but of the cross of Christ, the doctrine of salvation by a crucified Christ; or the doctrine of peace and reconciliation by the blood of his cross, and of righteousness, pardon, atonement, and satisfaction by the offering up of himself upon it as a sacrifice for sin, is here intended; and which
is foolishness in the esteem of many; and that because man's wisdom has no hand either in forming the scheme of it, or in the discovery of it to the sons of men; and besides, being revealed, it is very disagreeable to the carnal reason of man. This way of preaching is very impolite and unfashionable, and therefore despised; it is a doctrine which is not received by the wise and learned, but has been in all ages loaded with reproach, stigmatized either as a novel or licentious doctrine, and attended with persecution; though the only doctrine God owns for conversion, which administers comfort to distressed souls, and is food for the faith of believers; yea, it is a display of the highest wisdom; is what angels approve of, and desire to look into; is wiser than the wisdom of men; it has made foolish the wisdom of this world, and is what is only able to make a man wise unto salvation; and yet this doctrine is accounted foolish, yea foolishness itself; but to whom is it so?
to them that perish. All mankind are in a lost and perishing condition, by reason of sin, and want of righteousness. There are some who shall not perish; the Father has chose them unto salvation, the Son has redeemed them, and the Spirit sanctifies them; but there are others who do perish in their sins; wicked and ungodly men, Carried away with their own lusts and blinded by Satan, the god of this world: these are they that are lost, to whom the Gospel is hid, and who judge it foolishness; but their judgment of it is not to be regarded, being no more capable to judge of the glory and wisdom of the Gospel, than a blind man is of colours: but unto us which are saved; who are chosen in Christ unto salvation; whose persons and grace are secured in Christ, and in the everlasting covenant; for whom Christ has wrought out salvation; and to whom it is applied by the Spirit of God; and who are kept unto the full enjoyment of it by divine grace: to these
it is the power of God; organically or instrumentally; it being the means of quickening them when dead in sin, of enlightening their dark minds, of unstopping their deaf ears, of softening their hard hearts, and of enemies making them friends to God, Christ, and his people: and it is likewise so declaratively, there being a wonderful display of the power of God in the ministration of it; as may be seen when observed who were the first preachers of it, men of no figure in life, of no education, illiterate mechanics, very mean and abject; into these earthen vessels were put the treasure of the Gospel, that the excellency of the power might appear to be of God, and not man; as also the doctrine they preached, a crucified Christ, disagreeable to the wisdom of men; the manner in which they spread it, not by force of arms, by carnal weapons, but spiritual ones; moreover, the opposition they met with from rabbins, philosophers, princes, kings, and emperors, and all the states and powers of the world; and yet in how short a time, maugre all opposition, did they carry the Gospel throughout the whole world, to the conversion of millions of souls, and the planting of churches everywhere; and which Gospel has continued and increased, notwithstanding the efforts of persecutors and false teachers, and all the power and artifice of men and devils; all which can be attributed to nothing else but the mighty power of God: add to this, that the Gospel is the power of God in the esteem of the saints, who know it to be so by inward experience; they have felt the power of it on their hearts; it has wrought effectually in them, and therefore they are the best judges, and are capable of giving the best account of it.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible
For the preaching of the cross - Greek, “the word (ὁ λόγος ho logos) of the cross;” that is, the doctrine of the cross; or the doctrine which proclaims salvation only through the atonement which the Lord Jesus Christ made on the cross, This cannot mean that the statement that Christ died “as a martyr” on a cross, appears to be foolishness to people; because, if that was all, there would be nothing that would appear contemptible, or that would excite their opposition more than in the death of any other martyr. The statement that Polycarp, and Ignatius, and Paul, and Cranmer died as martyrs, does not appear to people to be foolishness, for it is a statement of an historical truth, and their death excites the high admiration of all people. And if, in the death of Jesus on the cross, there had been nothing more than a mere martyr’s death, it would have been equally the object of admiration to all people. But; the “preaching of the cross” must denote more than that; and must mean:
(1) That Christ died as an atoning sacrifice for the sins of people, and that; it was this which gave its speciality to his sufferings on the cross.
(2) That people can be reconciled to God, pardoned, and saved only by the merits and influence of this atoning sacrifice.
To them that perish - τοις μεν απολλυμενοις tois men apollumenois. To those who are about to perish, or to those who have a character fitting them for destruction; that is, to the wicked. The expression stands in contrast with those who are “saved,” that is, those who have seen the beauty of the cross of Christ, and who have fled to it for salvation.
Foolishness - Folly. That is, it appears to them to be contemptible and foolish, or unworthy of belief. To the great mass of the Jews, and to the pagan philosophers, and indeed, to the majority of the people of this world, it has ever appeared foolishness, for the following reasons:
(1) The humble origin of the Lord Jesus. They despise him that lived in Nazareth; that was poor; that had no home, and few friends, and no wealth, and little honor among his own countrymen.
(2) They despise him who was put to death, as an impostor, at the instigation of his own countrymen, in an ignominious manner on the cross - the usual punishment of slaves.
(3) They see not why there should be any particular efficacy in his death. They deem it incredible that he who could not save himself should be able to save them; and that glory should come from the ignominy of the cross.
(4) They are blind to the true beauty of his personal character; to the true dignity of his nature; to his power over the sick, the lame, the dying, and the dead; they see not the bearing of the work of atonement on the law and government of God; they believe not in his resurrection, and his present state of exalted glory. The world looks only at the fact, that the despised man of Nazareth was put to death on a cross, and smiles at the idea that such a death could have any important influence on the salvation of man - It is worthy of remark, also, that to the ancient philosophers this doctrine would appear still more contemptible than it does to the people of these times. Everything that came from Judea, they looked upon with contempt and scorn; and they would spurn above all things else the doctrine that they were to expect salvation only by the crucifixion of a Jew. Besides, the account of the crucifixion has now lost to us no small part of its reputation of ignominy. Even around the cross there is conceived to be no small amount of honor and glory. There is now a sacredness about it from religious associations; and a reverence which people in Christian lands can scarcely help feeling when they think of it. But to the ancients it was connected with every idea of ignominy. It was the punishment of slaves, impostors, and vagabonds; and had even a greater degree of disgrace attached to it than the gallows has with us. With them, therefore, the death on the cross was associated with the idea of all that is shameful and dishonorable; and to speak of salvation only by the sufferings and death of a crucified man, was suited to excite in their bosoms only unmingled scorn.
But unto us which are saved - This stands opposed to “them that perish.” It refers, doubtless, to Christians, as being saved from the power and condemnation of sin; and as having a prospect of eternal salvation in the world to come.
It is the power of God - See the note at Romans 1:16. This may either mean that the gospel is called “the power of God,” because it is the medium through which God exerts his power in the salvation of sinners; or, the gospel is adapted to the condition of man, and is efficacious in renewing him and sanctifying him. It is not an inert, inactive letter, but is so suited to the understanding, the heart, the hopes, the fears of people, and all their great constitutional principles of action, that it actually overcomes their sin, and diffuses peace through the soul. This efficacy is not unfrequently attributed to the gospel. John 17:17; Hebrews 4:12; James 1:18; 1 Peter 1:22-23. When the gospel, however, or the preaching of the cross, is spoken of as effectual or powerful, it must be understood of all the agencies which are connected with it; and does not refer to simple, abstract propositions, but to the truth as it comes attended with the influences which God sends down to accompany it.
It includes, therefore, the promised agency of the Holy Spirit, without which it would not be effectual. But the agency of the Spirit is designed to give efficacy to that which is “really adapted” to produce the effects, and not to act in an arbitrary manner. All the effects of the gospel on the soul - in regeneration, repentance, faith, sanctification - in hope, love, joy, peace, patience, temperance, purity, and devotedness to God, are only such “as the gospel is suited to produce.” It has a set of truths and promises just adapted to each of these effects; just suited to the soul by him who knows it; and adapted to produce just these results. The Holy Spirit secures their influence on the mind: and is the grand living agent of accomplishing just what the truth of God is “suited originally” to produce. Thus, the preaching of the cross is “the power of God;” and every minister may present it with the assurance that he is presenting, not “a cunningly devised fable,” but a system “really suited” to save people; and yet, that its reception by the human mind depends on the promised presence of the Holy Spirit.
Clarke's Notes on the Bible
Verse 18. For the preaching of the cross — Ὁ λογος γαρ ὁ του σταυρου, The doctrine of the cross; or the doctrine that is of or concerning the cross; that is, the doctrine that proclaims salvation to a lost world through the crucifixion of Christ.
Is to them that perish foolishness — There are, properly speaking, but two classes of men known where the Gospel is preached: απολλυμενοι, the unbelievers and gainsayers, who are perishing; and σοζομενοι, the obedient believers, who are in a state of salvation. To those who will continue in the first state, the preaching of salvation through the merit of a crucified Saviour is folly. To those who believe this doctrine of Christ crucified is the power of God to their salvation; it is divinely efficacious to deliver them from all the power, guilt, and pollution of sin.
