Focused Passage

1 Corinthians 1:18-25

The Cross of Christ Against Boasting, Division, and Worldly Wisdom

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

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.

19 For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”

20 Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?

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.

22 Jews demand signs and Greeks search for wisdom,

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

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

25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength.

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 18

Cross-references

1 Corinthians 2:14 Classic cross-references Romans 1:16 Classic cross-references 2 Thessalonians 2:10 Classic cross-references Isaiah 55:11 Classic cross-references 1 Corinthians 1:23 Classic cross-references Colossians 2:13-15 OliveGrove study links Galatians 3:13 OliveGrove study links Hebrews 2:14-15 OliveGrove study links

Original words

For γὰρ G1063 Conjunction the Ὁ G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular message λόγος G3056 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular - ὁ G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular of the τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Singular cross σταυροῦ G4716 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular is ἐστίν G1510 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular foolishness μωρία G3472 Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular to those who τοῖς G3588 Article - Dative Masculine Plural - μὲν G3303 Conjunction are perishing ἀπολλυμένοις G622 Verb - Present Participle Middle or Passive - Dative Masculine Plural but δὲ G1161 Conjunction to us who ἡμῖν G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 1st Person Plural - τοῖς G3588 Article - Dative Masculine Plural are being saved σῳζομένοις G4982 Verb - Present Participle Middle or Passive - Dative Masculine Plural it is ἐστιν G1510 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular [the] power δύναμις G1411 Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular of God Θεοῦ G2316 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular

Verse 19

Cross-references

Isaiah 29:14 Classic cross-references 2 Corinthians 10:5 Classic cross-references Jeremiah 8:9 Classic cross-references 1 Corinthians 3:19 Classic cross-references Job 5:12 Classic cross-references Colossians 2:13-15 OliveGrove study links Galatians 3:13 OliveGrove study links Hebrews 2:14-15 OliveGrove study links

Original words

For γάρ G1063 Conjunction it is written γέγραπται G1125 Verb - Perfect Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Singular I will destroy Ἀπολῶ G622 Verb - Future Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular the τὴν G3588 Article - Accusative Feminine Singular wisdom σοφίαν G4678 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular of the τῶν G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Plural wise σοφῶν G4680 Adjective - Genitive Masculine Plural - καὶ G2532 Conjunction the τὴν G3588 Article - Accusative Feminine Singular intelligence σύνεσιν G4907 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular of the τῶν G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Plural intelligent συνετῶν G4908 Adjective - Genitive Masculine Plural I will frustrate ἀθετήσω G114 Verb - Future Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular

BSB notes

Isaiah 29:14 (see also LXX)

Verse 20

Cross-references

1 Corinthians 1:27 Classic cross-references Romans 1:22 Classic cross-references Acts 17:18 Classic cross-references Job 12:17 Classic cross-references 1 Corinthians 1:19 Classic cross-references Colossians 2:13-15 OliveGrove study links Galatians 3:13 OliveGrove study links Hebrews 2:14-15 OliveGrove study links

Original words

Where [is the] Ποῦ G4226 Adverb wise [man] σοφός G4680 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular Where [is] ποῦ G4226 Adverb [the] scribe γραμματεύς G1122 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular Where [is] ποῦ G4226 Adverb [the] philosopher συζητητὴς G4804 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular of this τούτου G3778 Demonstrative Pronoun - Genitive Masculine Singular - τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Singular age αἰῶνος G165 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular {Has} not οὐχὶ G3780 IntPrtcl - ὁ G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular God Θεὸς G2316 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular made foolish ἐμώρανεν G3471 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular the τὴν G3588 Article - Accusative Feminine Singular wisdom σοφίαν G4678 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular of the τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Singular world κόσμου G2889 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular

Verse 21

Cross-references

1 Corinthians 1:18 Classic cross-references John 1:10 Classic cross-references Luke 10:21 Classic cross-references 2 Corinthians 11:6 Classic cross-references Ephesians 1:5 Classic cross-references Colossians 2:13-15 OliveGrove study links Galatians 3:13 OliveGrove study links Hebrews 2:14-15 OliveGrove study links

Original words

For γὰρ G1063 Conjunction since ἐπειδὴ G1894 Conjunction in ἐν G1722 Preposition the τῇ G3588 Article - Dative Feminine Singular wisdom σοφίᾳ G4678 Noun - Dative Feminine Singular - τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Singular of God Θεοῦ G2316 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular the ὁ G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular world κόσμος G2889 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular through διὰ G1223 Preposition [its] τῆς G3588 Article - Genitive Feminine Singular wisdom σοφίας G4678 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular {did} not οὐκ G3756 Adverb know ἔγνω G1097 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular - τὸν G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Singular [Him] Θεόν G2316 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular - ὁ G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular God Θεὸς G2316 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular was pleased εὐδόκησεν G2106 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular through διὰ G1223 Preposition the τῆς G3588 Article - Genitive Feminine Singular foolishness μωρίας G3472 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular of what τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Neuter Singular was preached κηρύγματος G2782 Noun - Genitive Neuter Singular to save σῶσαι G4982 Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active those who τοὺς G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Plural believe πιστεύοντας G4100 Verb - Present Participle Active - Accusative Masculine Plural

Verse 22

Cross-references

1 Corinthians 2:2 Classic cross-references John 4:48 Classic cross-references Matthew 12:38 Classic cross-references Matthew 16:1 Classic cross-references Acts 17:18 Classic cross-references Colossians 2:13-15 OliveGrove study links Galatians 3:13 OliveGrove study links Hebrews 2:14-15 OliveGrove study links

Original words

- Ἐπειδὴ G1894 Conjunction - καὶ G2532 Conjunction Jews Ἰουδαῖοι G2453 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural demand αἰτοῦσιν G154 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural signs σημεῖα G4592 Noun - Accusative Neuter Plural and καὶ G2532 Conjunction Greeks Ἕλληνες G1672 Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural search for ζητοῦσιν G2212 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural wisdom σοφίαν G4678 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular

Verse 23

Cross-references

1 Corinthians 1:18 Classic cross-references Luke 2:34 Classic cross-references 1 Corinthians 2:14 Classic cross-references 1 Peter 2:8 Classic cross-references 1 Corinthians 2:2 Classic cross-references Colossians 2:13-15 OliveGrove study links Galatians 3:13 OliveGrove study links Hebrews 2:14-15 OliveGrove study links

Original words

but δὲ G1161 Conjunction we ἡμεῖς G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 1st Person Plural preach κηρύσσομεν G2784 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Plural Christ Χριστὸν G5547 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular crucified ἐσταυρωμένον G4717 Verb - Perfect Participle Middle or Passive - Accusative Masculine Singular a stumbling block σκάνδαλον G4625 Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular - μὲν G3303 Conjunction to Jews Ἰουδαίοις G2453 Adjective - Dative Masculine Plural and δὲ G1161 Conjunction foolishness μωρίαν G3472 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular to Gentiles ἔθνεσιν G1484 Noun - Dative Neuter Plural

BSB notes

BYZ and TR to Greeks

Verse 24

Cross-references

1 Corinthians 4:20 Classic cross-references Colossians 2:3 Classic cross-references 1 Corinthians 1:30 Classic cross-references Isaiah 53:1 Classic cross-references 1 Corinthians 1:18 Classic cross-references Colossians 2:13-15 OliveGrove study links Galatians 3:13 OliveGrove study links Hebrews 2:14-15 OliveGrove study links

Original words

but δὲ G1161 Conjunction to those αὐτοῖς G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Plural who τοῖς G3588 Article - Dative Masculine Plural are called κλητοῖς G2822 Adjective - Dative Masculine Plural both τε G5037 Conjunction Jews Ἰουδαίοις G2453 Adjective - Dative Masculine Plural and καὶ G2532 Conjunction Greeks Ἕλλησιν G1672 Noun - Dative Masculine Plural Christ Χριστὸν G5547 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular [the] power δύναμιν G1411 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular of God Θεοῦ G2316 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction [the] wisdom σοφίαν G4678 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular of God Θεοῦ G2316 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular

Verse 25

Cross-references

Romans 11:33 Classic cross-references Acts 5:39 Classic cross-references 1 Corinthians 1:18 Classic cross-references Zechariah 4:6 Classic cross-references 2 Corinthians 13:4 Classic cross-references Colossians 2:13-15 OliveGrove study links Galatians 3:13 OliveGrove study links Hebrews 2:14-15 OliveGrove study links

Original words

For Ὅτι G3754 Conjunction the τὸ G3588 Article - Nominative Neuter Singular foolishness μωρὸν G3474 Adjective - Nominative Neuter Singular - τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Singular of God Θεοῦ G2316 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular is ἐστίν G1510 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular wiser σοφώτερον G4680 Adjective - Nominative Neuter Singular - Comparative - τῶν G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Plural than man’s [wisdom] ἀνθρώπων G444 Noun - Genitive Masculine Plural and καὶ G2532 Conjunction the τὸ G3588 Article - Nominative Neuter Singular weakness ἀσθενὲς G772 Adjective - Nominative Neuter Singular - τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Singular of God Θεοῦ G2316 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular [is] stronger ἰσχυρότερον G2478 Adjective - Nominative Neuter Singular - Comparative - τῶν G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Plural than man’s [strength] ἀνθρώπων G444 Noun - Genitive Masculine Plural

BSB notes

Literally than men; twice in this verse

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