Block Christ Cross Crucified Folly Foolish Foolishness Gentiles Greeks Indeed Jews Nations News Offence Preach Proclaim Stumbling Stumblingblock Stumbling-block
1:23 But we preach Christ crucified. Not merely Christ, but Christ Crucified; a Crucified Savior.
Unto the Jews a stumblingblock. Because they had an entirely different conception of the Christ. Yet it was predicted that he should be a stone of stumbling (Mt 21:42 Isa 8:14)
Unto the Greeks foolishness. It seemed to the Greeks that a being who died so ignominious a death could not be divine.
1:23 We go on to preach, in a plain and historical, not rhetorical or philosophical, manner, Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumblingblock - Just opposite to the signs they demand. And to the Greeks foolishness - A silly tale, just opposite to the wisdom they seek.
1:17-25 Paul had been bred up in Jewish learning; but the plain preaching of a crucified Jesus, was more powerful than all the oratory and philosophy of the heathen world. This is the sum and substance of the gospel. Christ crucified is the foundation of all our hopes, the fountain of all our joys. And by his death we live. The preaching of salvation for lost sinners by the sufferings and death of the Son of God, if explained and faithfully applied, appears foolishness to those in the way to destruction. The sensual, the covetous, the proud, and ambitious, alike see that the gospel opposes their favourite pursuits. But those who receive the gospel, and are enlightened by the Spirit of God, see more of God's wisdom and power in the doctrine of Christ crucified, than in all his other works. God left a great part of the world to follow the dictates of man's boasted reason, and the event has shown that human wisdom is folly, and is unable to find or retain the knowledge of God as the Creator. It pleased him, by the foolishness of preaching, to save them that believe. By the foolishness of preaching; not by what could justly be called foolish preaching. But the thing preached was foolishness to wordly-wise men. The gospel ever was, and ever will be, foolishness to all in the road to destruction. The message of Christ, plainly delivered, ever has been a sure touchstone by which men may learn what road they are travelling. But the despised doctrine of salvation by faith in a crucified Saviour, God in human nature, purchasing the church with his own blood, to save multitudes, even all that believe, from ignorance, delusion, and vice, has been blessed in every age. And the weakest instruments God uses, are stronger in their effects, than the strongest men can use. Not that there is foolishness or weakness in God, but what men consider as such, overcomes all their admired wisdom and strength.
Block Christ Cross Crucified Folly Foolish Foolishness Gentiles Good Greeks Hard Indeed Jews Nations News Offence Preach Proclaim Stumbling Stumblingblock Stumbling-Block
Block Christ Cross Crucified Folly Foolish Foolishness Gentiles Good Greeks Hard Indeed Jews Nations News Offence Preach Proclaim Stumbling Stumblingblock Stumbling-Block
