Lenten Season · Third Sunday of Lent · Year B
1 Corinthians 1:22-25
Christ the Wisdom and Power of God
February 28, 2027
Overview & Insights
“For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” (1 Corinthians 1:18)
In the ancient world, “wisdom” was not an abstract concept unrelated to daily living. To the contrary, it was a way of living based on a given understanding of life’s purpose and of what actions reasonably would accomplish such purpose. Various philosophers (lit., “lovers of wisdom”) competed to gain a following for their particular brand of how-to-live. Similar competition and pursuit of prominence lay at the core of the Corinthian cliques. Enamored with the “wisdom” and success of the professional speakers in the city, a number of house churches were using a similar approach to put them ahead of other church groups. Such behavior made it evident to Paul that they relied on human wisdom rather than God’s. Paul’s firm and uncompromising rejection of this behavior shows how strongly he considers this a direct attack on the gospel itself.
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Commentary
Commentary on 1 Corinthians 1:18-25 Working Preacher
Luther Seminary exegesis of the foolishness of the cross as the power of God (RCL Year B match).
1 Corinthians 1:18-25 Commentary Center for Excellence in Preaching
Reformed commentary on the majestic reversal at the heart of Paul's message of the cross.
Enduring Word Commentary: 1 Corinthians 1 Enduring Word · David Guzik
David Guzik's verse-by-verse notes on the wisdom and foolishness contrast in Paul's argument.
1 Corinthians 1 Commentary Precept Austin
Deep verse-by-verse study drawing multiple commentators and Greek word notes on the passage.
1 Corinthians 1:22 Commentaries BibleHub
Aggregated classic commentaries on Jews seeking signs and Greeks seeking wisdom.
Background & Word Study
1 Corinthians 1:22 Interlinear BibleHub
Greek word-by-word interlinear with parsing and Strong's numbers for the passage.
1 Corinthians - Enter the Bible Enter the Bible
Luther Seminary introduction to the Corinthian correspondence and its rhetorical setting.
Book of 1 Corinthians Overview BibleProject
Animated overview of how Paul reads every Corinthian problem through the lens of the cross.
The Church Fathers
Questions preachers ask
What does “the foolishness of the cross” mean?
Paul says a crucified Messiah is a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Greeks, yet “Christ crucified” is the very wisdom and power of God (1 Corinthians 1:23–24). On Holy Cross Day the church glories in what the world counts as weakness.
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