1 Corinthians — Chapter 1

The Cross — Foolishness to the World, 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."

— 1Cor 1:18

1 Corinthians was written ~A.D. 55 to a divided, immoral, and confused church. Chapter 1 confronts partisan divisions with the theology of the cross — which overturns all human wisdom and power.

✝️ The Foolishness of the Cross (1:18-31)

1Cor 1:18-25

"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... because the Jews demand signs and the Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified."

The cross (stauros) was the symbol of utmost shame in the ancient world. Paul proclaims that this 'foolishness' (moria) is the power (dynamis) and wisdom (sophia) of God. To the Jews, a crucified Messiah was a skandalon. To the Greeks, it was moria. But to those called, it is the power of God.

1Cor 1:26-29

"For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise."

The sociological composition of the Corinthian Church confirms the theology of the cross: not many wise, powerful, or noble. God deliberately chooses what the world despises so that no flesh may boast (kauchesete) before Him.