1 Corinthians 1:24

New Living Translation

But to those called by God to salvation, both Jews and Gentiles, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God.

Parallel Translations

Easy-to-Read Version
But Christ is God's power and wisdom to the people God has chosen, both Jews and Greeks.

Revised Standard Version
but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
but vnto the which are called both of Iewes and Grekes we preache Christ ye power of God and the wysdome of God.

Hebrew Names Version
but to those who are called, both Yehudim and Yevanim, Messiah is the power of God and the wisdom of God.

International Standard Version
but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ is God's power and God's wisdom.Romans 1:4,16; 1 Corinthians 1:18; Colossians 2:3;">[xr]

New American Standard Bible
but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.

New Century Version
But Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God to those people God has called—Jews and Greeks.

Update Bible Version
but to those that are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.

Webster's Bible Translation
But to them who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.

English Standard Version
but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.

World English Bible
but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God.

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
But to them that are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.

Weymouth's New Testament
but to those who have received the Call, whether Jews or Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
but to tho Jewis and Grekis that ben clepid, we prechen Crist the vertu of God and the wisdom of God.

English Revised Version
but unto them that are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.

Berean Standard Bible
but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.

Contemporary English Version
Our message is God's power and wisdom for the Jews and the Greeks that he has chosen.

Amplified Bible
but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks (Gentiles), Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God.

American Standard Version
but unto them that are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.

Bible in Basic English
But to those of God's selection, Jews and Greeks, Christ is the power and the wisdom of God.

Complete Jewish Bible
but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, this same Messiah is God's power and God's wisdom!

Darby Translation
but to those that [are] called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ God's power and God's wisdom.

Etheridge Translation
but to them who are called, Jihudoyee and Aramoyee, the Meshiha is the power of Aloha, and the wisdom of Aloha.

Murdock Translation
but to them who are called, both Jews and Gentiles, Messiah is the energy of God, and the wisdom of God.

King James Version (1611)
But vnto them which are called, both Iewes and Greekes, Christ, the power of God, & the wisedome of God.

New Life Bible
Christ is the power and wisdom of God to those who are chosen to be saved from the punishment of sin for both Jews and Greeks.

New Revised Standard
but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.

Geneva Bible (1587)
But vnto them which are called, both of the Iewes and Grecians, we preach Christ, the power of God, and the wisedome of God.

George Lamsa Translation
But for those who are called, both Jews and Syrians, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
But, unto the called themselves - both Jews and Greeks, Christ, God's power, and, God's wisdom.

Douay-Rheims Bible
But unto them that are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ, the power of God and the wisdom of God.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
But vnto them which are called both of the Iewes and Grekes [we preache] Christe the power of God, and the wisedome of God.

Good News Translation
but for those whom God has called, both Jews and Gentiles, this message is Christ, who is the power of God and the wisdom of God.

Christian Standard Bible®
Yet to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God,

King James Version
But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.

Lexham English Bible
but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God.

Literal Translation
but to the called out ones, both to Jews and to Greeks, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God;

Young's Literal Translation
and to those called -- both Jews and Greeks -- Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God,

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
But vnto them that are called (both Iewes and Grekes) we preach Christ the power of God and the wyssdome off God.

Mace New Testament (1729)
both Jews and Gentiles, he is the Christ, the power of God, and the wisdom of God.

New English Translation
But to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God.

New King James Version
but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.

Simplified Cowboy Version
But to those who have been saved, they understand Jesus is the power of God and the wisdom of God.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.

Legacy Standard Bible
but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.

Contextual Overview

¹⁷ For Christ didn't send me to baptize, but to preach the Good News—and not with clever speech, for fear that the cross of Christ would lose its power. ¹⁸ 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. ¹⁹ As the Scriptures say, "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise and discard the intelligence of the intelligent." ²⁰ So where does this leave the philosophers, the scholars, and the world's brilliant debaters? God has made the wisdom of this world look foolish. ²¹ Since God in his wisdom saw to it that the world would never know him through human wisdom, he has used our foolish preaching to save those who believe. ²² It is foolish to the Jews, who ask for signs from heaven. And it is foolish to the Greeks, who seek human wisdom. ²³ So when we preach that Christ was crucified, the Jews are offended and the Gentiles say it's all nonsense. ²⁴ But to those called by God to salvation, both Jews and Gentiles, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God. ²⁵ This foolish plan of God is wiser than the wisest of human plans, and God's weakness is stronger than the greatest of human strength. ²⁶ Remember, dear brothers and sisters, that few of you were wise in the world's eyes or powerful or wealthy when God called you.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

called: 1 Corinthians 1:2, 1 Corinthians 1:9, Luke 7:35, Romans 8:28-30, Romans 9:24

the power: 1 Corinthians 1:18, Romans 1:4, Romans 1:16

the wisdom: 1 Corinthians 1:30, Proverbs 8:1, Proverbs 8:22-30, Colossians 2:3

Reciprocal: Exodus 38:7 - to bear it withal Numbers 11:7 - the manna Joshua 3:14 - bearing the ark 1 Kings 3:28 - the wisdom Job 12:13 - wisdom Job 36:5 - mighty Psalms 110:2 - the rod Proverbs 1:20 - Wisdom Proverbs 2:7 - layeth Proverbs 8:14 - Counsel Isaiah 48:12 - my called Isaiah 53:1 - the Isaiah 63:5 - mine own Daniel 3:3 - the princes Matthew 11:19 - But Luke 9:31 - spake John 12:38 - the arm Acts 8:10 - the great power Acts 11:20 - preaching 1 Corinthians 1:21 - in 1 Corinthians 4:20 - General 1 Corinthians 15:1 - I declare 2 Corinthians 6:7 - the power Galatians 1:15 - and Galatians 3:1 - Jesus Christ Ephesians 3:10 - manifold 1 Thessalonians 1:5 - but Hebrews 4:12 - is quick

Cross-References

Genesis 1:9
Then God said, "Let the waters beneath the sky flow together into one place, so dry ground may appear." And that is what happened.

Genesis 1:10
God called the dry ground "land" and the waters "seas." And God saw that it was good.

Genesis 6:20
Pairs of every kind of bird, and every kind of animal, and every kind of small animal that scurries along the ground, will come to you to be kept alive.

Genesis 7:14
With them in the boat were pairs of every kind of animal—domestic and wild, large and small—along with birds of every kind.

Genesis 8:19
And all of the large and small animals and birds came out of the boat, pair by pair.

Job 39:1
"Do you know when the wild goats give birth? Have you watched as deer are born in the wild?

Job 39:5
"Who gives the wild donkey its freedom? Who untied its ropes?

Job 39:9
"Will the wild ox consent to being tamed? Will it spend the night in your stall?

Job 39:19
"Have you given the horse its strength or clothed its neck with a flowing mane?

Job 40:15
"Take a look at Behemoth, which I made, just as I made you. It eats grass like an ox.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

But unto them which are called,.... Effectually, by the grace of God, not merely externally, but internally; these have other sentiments of Christ, and the doctrine of salvation by him; for being called out of darkness, and savingly illuminated by the Spirit of God, they see wisdom, beauty, glory, excellency, and suitableness in Christ, and in his Gospel; and having felt the power of it upon their souls, with them,

both Jews and Greeks, of whatsoever nation they be, and whatsoever their prejudices have been, Christ, to them is,

the power of God, and the wisdom of God: he is "the power of God"; this is opposed to the Jews who stumbled at his weakness, his sufferings and death, even the death of the cross; and is to be understood of him, not as God, in which sense he is Mighty, yea, the Almighty, and which appears by his works of creation and providence; but as Mediator, and of him in his low and mean estate, and even when he was crucified through weakness; in respect to that very thing in which he was weakness, and so stumbling, to others, he is to them that are called the power of God; as is clear by his bearing all the sins of his people in his own body, on the tree, the cross whereon he was crucified, and all the punishment due thereunto; and yet he failed not, nor was he discouraged, nor did he give out, till he had satisfied law and justice perfectly, and made a full end of sin, and an entire reconciliation for iniquity; as also by destroying, by his death, the devil, who had the power of death, and spoiling all his principalities and powers, triumphing over them on his cross; by redeeming his people from all their sins, and the curse of the law, and from him that was stronger than they; by abolishing death, and at last raising himself from the dead; all which show him, even when and "though" crucified, to be the power of God, or to be possessed of Almighty power; for these are things which a mere creature could never have done: and he is "the wisdom of God", also, in the account of these persons; and which likewise is to be understood, it being opposed to the opinions the Greeks had of him, not of him as the essential wisdom of God, as he is the wise Creator and Governor of the universe; but of him as Mediator, and in respect to that for which the Greeks accounted him foolishness: for in redemption and salvation by a crucified Christ, God hath abounded towards us in all wisdom and prudence: there is in this article a high display of the wisdom of God; for hereby justice was satisfied in that nature which sinned, and Satan destroyed in that nature which he himself had been the ruin of; hereby sin was condemned, and yet the sinner saved; pardon and justification came to be in a way of grace, and yet of strict justice; all the divine perfections harmonize, and are glorified, and God has hereby executed his wise designs and counsels of old; yea, even the wisdom of God is seen in Christ's dying the death of the cross, whereby he appeared to be made a curse for us, that he might redeem us from the curse of the law, and that the blessing of Abraham might come upon us.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

But unto them which are called - To all true Christians. See the note at 1 Corinthians 1:9.

Both Jews and Greeks - Whether originally of Jewish or Gentile extraction, they have here a common, similar view of the crucified Saviour.

Christ the power of God - Christ appears to them as the power of God; or it is through him that the power of salvation is communicated to them. See the note at 1 Corinthians 1:18.

And the wisdom of God - The way in which God evinces his wisdom in the salvation of people. They see the plan to be wise. They see that it is adapted to the end. They see it to be suited to procure pardon, and sanctification, and eternal life. It is God’s wise plan for the salvation of people; and it is seen by those who are Christians, to be adapted to this end. They see that there is a beauty in his character; an excellency in his doctrines; and an efficacy in his atonement, to secure their salvation. - We may remark on this verse:

(1) That when people become Christians, their hearts are changed. The views of Christians are here represented as diametrically opposite to those of other people. To one class, Christ is a stumbling-block; to others, folly; to Christians he is full of beauty. But those views of the Christian, can be obtained only by a change of heart. And the change from regarding an object or being as foolishness to regarding it as full of beauty, must be a radical and a mighty change.

(2) All Christians have similar views of the Saviour. It matters not whether they were Jew or Greek; it matters not whether they were born in a northern or southern clime - “whether an Indian or an African sun has burned upon them;” whether they speak the same or different languages; whether they were born amidst the same or different denominations of Christians; whether in the same or different countries; or whether they are people in the same or different Christian communities, they have the same views of the Saviour. They see him to be the power and the wisdom of God. They are united in him, and therefore united to each other; and should regard themselves as belonging to the same family, and as bound to the same eternal home.

(3) There is real efficacy in the plan of salvation. It is a scheme of power. It is adapted to the end, and is admirably suited to accomplish the great effects which God designs to accomplish. It is not a scheme intended to show its own imbecility, and the need of another and an independent agent to accomplish the work. All the effects which the Holy Spirit produces on the soul, are such, and only such, as the truth of the gospel is adapted to produce in the mind. The gospel is God’s plan of putting forth power to save people. It seizes upon great elements in human nature; and is adapted to enlist them in the service of God. It is just suited to man as a being capable of reasoning and susceptible of emotion; as a being who maybe influenced by hope and fear; who may be excited and impelled to duty by conscience, and who may be roused from a state of lethargy and sin by the prospect of eternal life, and the apprehension of eternal death. “As such” it should always be preached - as a system “wise,” and “adapted” to the great end in view, as a system most powerful and “mighty to the pulling down of strong holds.”

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 24. But unto them which are called — τοις κλητοις. Those, both of Jews and Greeks, who were by the preaching of the Gospel called or invited to the marriage feast, and have accordingly believed in Christ Jesus; they prove this doctrine to be divinely powerful, to enlighten and convert the soul, and to be a proof of God's infinite wisdom, which has found out such an effectual way to glorify both his justice and mercy, and save, to the uttermost, all that come to him through Christ Jesus. The called, or invited, κλητοι, is a title of genuine Christians, and is frequently used in the New Testament. αγιοι, saints, is used in the same sense.