1 Corinthians 1:23

1:23 but we preach about a crucified Christ, ¹  a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles.

1 Corinthians 1:25

1:25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, ²  and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength. ³ 

1 Corinthians 1:18

The Message of the Cross

1:18 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.

1 Corinthians 2:14

2:14 The unbeliever ⁴  does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him. And he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.

1 Corinthians 3:19

3:19 For the wisdom of this age is foolishness with God. As it is written, “He catches the wise in their craftiness.” ⁵ 

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¹ tn Or “Messiah”; Grk “preach Christ [Messiah] crucified,” giving the content of the message.

² tn Grk “than men.”

³ tn Grk “than men.”

⁴ tn Grk “natural person.” Cf. BDAG 1100 s.v. ψυχικός a, “an unspiritual pers., one who merely functions bodily, without being touched by the Spirit of God.”

⁵ sn A quotation from Job 5:13.