1 Corinthians 1:18
Bible Verses. Also called 1 Cor 1:18, 1 Corinthians 1 18, The preaching of the cross, The word of the cross, The message of the cross, The power of God.
For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
Scripture quotation from the King James Version (KJV). Read this chapter
"For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God." This verse declares that the cross stands at the center of the gospel and is frequently cited as a text that sets the direction for preaching and theology.
About this articleAI draft from a Korean source. Notes on Korean Protestant practice. No sources listed. Not yet reviewed by a person.
- Origin
Drafted by AI from the Korean church.wiki article, then translated and adapted for English readers on 5 November 2026.
- Perspective
Includes notes on Korean Protestant practice; other traditions are noted where they differ.
- Sources
None listed yet. The article draws on the biblical text and general reference works. Add a source
- Review
Not yet reviewed by a person. Last edited by a person: never. Translation updated 5 November 2026. Edit history
Context
The church at Corinth was divided into factions according to the leaders its members followed, some saying "I am of Paul" and others "I of Apollos" (1:10-12). After stating that he preached the gospel "not with wisdom of words" (v. 17), Paul begins in verse 18 to explain how the message of the cross differs from the wisdom of the world. He goes on to say that "the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom," but "we preach Christ crucified" (vv. 22-23).
Interpretation
- As the content of the gospel: On this reading, "the preaching of the cross" (Greek ho logos tou staurou) refers to the word about the cross, that is, the message of atonement: that Christ died for sinners. Most denominations understand the phrase in this way.
- As a declaration of God's way of working: On this reading, the cross is not only a message but also reveals God's very way of working through weakness and shame. Luther's "theology of the cross" (a theology that sees God revealed not in glory but in suffering and weakness) draws heavily on this passage.
- As salvation in progress: "Them that perish" and "us which are saved" both translate present participles in the Greek. Some interpreters therefore hold that the verse speaks of salvation not only as a single moment in the past but also as a process now under way. The Wesleyan tradition emphasizes this point in connection with sanctification.
Questions of Application
The verse has at times been used to justify disparaging the intellect and scholarship. Against this, some argue that what Paul rejected was not wisdom itself but the boasting of a world that mocks the cross. The verse is also cited as grounds for self-criticism, on the view that the church, in pursuing growth and success, has lost the message of the weakness of the cross.
Perspective: Korean Protestant practiceHow this idea is used in Korean churches, kept from the original Korean article.
In the preaching and hymnody of Korean churches, the "gospel of the cross" is the most central theme, and this verse is frequently read in Holy Week sermons and at services marking the opening of the academic term at theological seminaries.
Related Passages
See also 5
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