📖WEB · 1 Corinthians 1:24
What does 1 Corinthians 1:24 mean?
"but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God."
— 1 Corinthians 1:24 (World English Bible)
Surrounding context
For seeing that in the wisdom of God, the world through its wisdom didn’t know God, it was God’s good pleasure through the foolishness of the preaching to save those who believe.
For Jews ask for signs, Greeks seek after wisdom,
but we preach Christ crucified; a stumbling block to Jews, and foolishness to Greeks,
but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God.
Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
For you see your calling, brothers, that not many are wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, and not many noble;
but God chose the foolish things of the world that he might put to shame those who are wise. God chose the weak things of the world, that he might put to shame the things that are strong;
Explanation
1 Corinthians 1:24 comes near the beginning of Paul's first letter to the church in Corinth, a congregation he had founded but which was now troubled by division, favoritism toward certain leaders, and a fascination with worldly eloquence and status. In the verses leading up to this one, Paul contrasts the message of the cross with what both Jews and Greeks were seeking: Jews looking for miraculous signs to validate a messiah, and Greeks (Gentiles) looking for philosophical wisdom and rhetorical sophistication. To both groups, a crucified Messiah seemed absurd — Paul calls it a "stumbling block" to Jews and "foolishness" to Greeks (v. 23). Yet in verse 24, he declares that for those who are called — that is, those who respond to God's call and believe — Christ himself is not a disappointment but the very thing both groups were looking for: he is the power of God and the wisdom of God.
In plain language, Paul is saying that Christ, and specifically Christ crucified, actually accomplishes what people crave from power and wisdom, even though it doesn't look like what they expected. The cross seems weak, since it's an instrument of execution and shame, but it is where God's power is displayed to save and transform people. The cross seems foolish, since it offers no clever argument or impressive philosophy, but it is where God's wisdom is revealed, accomplishing salvation in a way human wisdom could never devise or achieve.
Theologically, this verse makes a pointed statement about how God works. God does not valid
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