1 Corinthians 1:18 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Corinthians 1:17-31

We have here, I. The manner in which Paul preached the gospel, and the cross of Christ: Not with the wisdom of words (1 Cor. 1:17), the enticing words of man's wisdom (1 Cor. 2:4), the flourish of oratory, or the accuracies of philosophical language, upon which the Greeks so much prided themselves, and which seem to have been the peculiar recommendations of some of the heads of the faction in this church that most opposed this apostle. He did not preach the gospel in this manner, lest the... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 1 Corinthians 1:18-25

1:18-25 For the story of the Cross is foolishness to those who are on the way to destruction, but it is the power of God to those who are on the way to salvation. For it stands written, "I will wipe out the wisdom of the wise and I will bring to nothing the cleverness of the clever." Where is the wise? Where is the expert in the law? Where is the man who debates about this world's wisdom? Did not God render foolish the wisdom of this world? For when, in God's wisdom, the world for all its... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Corinthians 1:18

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... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Corinthians 1:18

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... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Corinthians 1:18

Verse 18 18.For the preaching of the cross, etc. In this first clause a concession is made. For as it might very readily be objected, that the gospel is commonly held in contempt, if it be presented in so bare and abject a form, Paul of his own accord concedes this, but when he adds, that it is so in the estimation of them that perish, he intimates that no regard must be paid to their judgment. For who would choose to despise the gospel at the expense of perishing? This statement, therefore,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 1:1-31

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 1:17-25

The preaching of the cross. I. THE CROSS IS TO BE PREACHED . The gospel cannot be preached unless the cross is. The cross is the central fact. The con, verging point of the Scriptures is found in "Christ crucified." Without the cross Christianity becomes meaningless and powerless. Salvation and the cross are indissolubly linked: the cross speaks of the shedding of blood, "and without shedding of blood is no remission" ( Hebrews 9:22 ). II. THE CROSS IS TO BE ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 1:17-25

Man's wisdom and God's. The mention of baptism leads the apostle to speak of his preaching at Corinth. His mission was "not to baptize, but to preach the gospel," and he proceeds to vindicate his discharge of that mission as against those who preferred the "wisdom of this world." I. THE THEME OF EVANGELICAL PREACHING . He calls it "the word of the cross;" "Christ crucified". Here at Corinth, even more than elsewhere, Paul felt the necessity of adhering to the simplicity of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 1:18

For the preaching of the cross; rather, the word of the cross. To them that are perishing; rather, to the perishing; to all those who are now walking in the paths that lead to destruction ( 2 Corinthians 2:15 ). To them it was foolishness, because it requires spiritual discernment ( 1 Corinthians 2:14 ); and, on the other hand, human wisdom is foolishness with God ( 1 Corinthians 3:19 ). Foolishness . It shows the heroic character of the faith of St. Paul that he deliberately... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 1:18

The doctrine of the cross. There is a holy zeal of indignation in the spirit animating this passage. Paul, the rabbinical scholar, not untinctured with Hellenic culture, must have felt it hard that the life he had voluntarily adopted often brought him into disrepute even amongst his intellectual inferiors. But he had chosen deliberately and in the sight of God, and no power on earth could make him swerve from his course. His own mind was satisfied that the gospel could do for man what no... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Corinthians 1:17-31

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 1 Corinthians 1:18-25

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Corinthians 1:18

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Corinthians 1:18

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Corinthians 1:18

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 1:1-31

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 1:17-25

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 1:17-25

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 1:18

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 1:18

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