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Lenten Season · Third Sunday of Lent · Year B

1 Corinthians 1:22-25

Christ the Wisdom and Power of God

February 28, 2027

Christ Crucified, Francisco de Goya
Christ Crucified, Francisco de Goya, 1780Museo Nacional del Prado, Madrid
Christ alone on the cross against a black ground, his body pale and calm, his eyes lifted toward heaven.For Jews demand signs and Greeks desire wisdom, but we proclaim Christ crucified, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom.Francisco de GoyaThe great Spanish painter, who painted this as his entrance piece for the Royal Academy of San Fernando in Madrid.Museo Nacional del Prado, MadridThe Museo del Prado in Madrid, home of the Spanish royal collections.Museo Nacional del Prado, Madrid
Roman Lectionary
GospelJohn 2:13-25Jn 2:13-25Alt. GospelIf First Scrutiny of the Elect: John 4:5-42If First Scrutiny of the Elect: Jn 4:5-42 orJohn 4:5-15, 19b-26, 39a, 40-42Jn 4:5-15, 19b-26, 39a, 40-42
Second Reading1 Cor. 1:22-251 Cor 1:22-25Alt. 2nd ReadingIf First Scrutiny of the Elect: Romans 5:1-2, 5-8If First Scrutiny of the Elect: Rom 5:1-2, 5-8
First ReadingExod. 20:1-17Ex 20:1-17Alt. 1st ReadingIf First Scrutiny of the Elect: Exodus 17:3-7If First Scrutiny of the Elect: Ex 17:3-7
Responsorial PsalmPs. 19:8, 9, 10, 11 (John 6:68c)Ps 19:8, 9, 10, 11 (Jn 6:68c)Alt. PsalmIf First Scrutiny of the Elect: Psalm 95:1-2, 6-7, 8-9 (8)If First Scrutiny of the Elect: Ps 95:1-2, 6-7, 8-9 (8)

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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Take it further: 1 Corinthians 1:22-25

Commentary

Commentary on 1 Corinthians 1:18-25Commentary on 1 Cor 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 Commentary1 Cor 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 1Enduring Word Commentary: 1 Cor 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 Commentary1 Cor 1 Commentary Precept Austin

Deep verse-by-verse study drawing multiple commentators and Greek word notes on the passage.

1 Corinthians 1:22 Commentaries1 Cor 1:22 Commentaries BibleHub

Aggregated classic commentaries on Jews seeking signs and Greeks seeking wisdom.

Background & Word Study

1 Corinthians 1:22 Interlinear1 Cor 1:22 Interlinear BibleHub

Greek word-by-word interlinear with parsing and Strong's numbers for the passage.

Book of 1 Corinthians OverviewBook of 1 Cor Overview BibleProject

Animated overview of how Paul reads every Corinthian problem through the lens of the cross.

The Church Fathers

Catena Bible: 1 Corinthians 1Catena Bible: 1 Cor 1 Catena

Patristic and medieval comment chained verse by verse across 1 Corinthians 1.

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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