It’s one of the first verses many Christians memorize, especially those growing up in churches that emphasize evangelism.
For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. (1 Corinthians 1:18)
This verse has made its way onto t-shirts and stickers aplenty. My Bible reading recently included 1 and 2 Corinthians, and I took some time to pause and reflect.
The word of the cross is […] the power of God. That statement begs for investigation.
“Power” is best known or understood when it is deployed. So, in what sense is the “word of the cross” the “power of God?” Or, phrased in a different way: If the word of the cross is the power of God “to us who are being saved,” what is it the power of God for? What does the word of the cross do?
Fortunately, the context of this verse answers this question!
An Overview of 1 Corinthians 1
Here’s a brief overview of the first chapter of 1 Corinthians. Paul identifies himself and addresses the letter to the church in Corinth (1 Cor 1:1–3). He emphasizes that these saints are called “together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Cor 1:2). We’ll see why shortly, but there is A LOT of “together” language in this paragraph! It caused me to count—in this chapter the word “our” occurs eight times, “us” occurs twice, and “we” also occurs twice.
In verses 4–9, Paul thanks God for the Corinthians. They were “enriched” in speech and knowledge so that they were “not lacking in any gift.” These Christians are prepared to “wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Cor 1:7).
Paul appeals for unity in 1 Cor 1:10–17, especially in verse 10. He appeals that “there be no divisions among you.” There are factions—some following Paul, Apollos, or Cephas (verse 12). Paul emphasizes Jesus’s proper place when he writes that Christ sent him “to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power” (1 Cor 1:17).
In 1 Cor 1:18–25, Paul describes how God has “made foolish the wisdom of the world” (verse 20). God’s means of doing this is “through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe” (verse 21). Despite what audiences want, Paul is committed to preaching “Christ crucified” (1 Cor 1:23).
Finally, Paul describes God’s purposes in calling the people he called. Not many of them were esteemed in the eyes of the world, but God called them to shame those in high places. God did this “so that no human being might boast in the presence of God” (1 Cor 1:29).
What Does this Power Do?
I see at least three things that God’s power—in the form of the word of the cross—accomplishes. While these are written specifically to the church at Corinth, they are relevant for us as well.
The word of the cross destroys the wisdom of the wise
This comes from a fairly straight-ahead reading of 1 Cor 1:18–19. God will “destroy the wisdom of the wise” and he will thwart “the discernment of the discerning.” The world cannot uncover the message of the gospel through its knowledge and cunning; the best the world has to offer cannot match even the foolishness of God (verse 25). “The word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing” (verse 18).
The word of the cross saves those who believe
To be precise, it is God who saves through this word, but the fact comes directly from 1 Cor 1:21. Those who are called are those who believe; and to all those who are called, Christ is “the power of God and the wisdom of God” (1 Cor 1:21,24). This truth is present in the verse with which this article began: to those who are being saved, the word of the cross is the power of God (1 Cor 1:18).
The word of the cross unites believers in Christ
This use of the power of God picks up the thread running through this chapter. God chooses whom he chooses—not many who are wise or respectable—so that no one might boast in his presence. He wants anyone who boasts to boast in the Lord (1 Cor 1:31). This points all attention to Jesus and to the powerful word of his cross, so that Paul can write, “And because of [God] you are in Christ Jesus” (1 Cor 1:30).
For a church divided enough to claim different leaders (Paul, Apollos, Cephas, Christ), this is a vital message. All of the Corinthian believers are in Christ, thanks to the word of the cross. And because they are all in Christ, they can be “united in the same mind and the same judgment” (1 Cor 1:10).
The Powerful Word of the Cross
The preaching that Paul commends to the Corinthians is specifically the word of the cross. Paul preached Christ crucified. This is the beating heart of the gospel: Jesus died for sinners.
We must not end our discussion of Jesus with his healings, his teachings, or his example, as valuable as these are. The gospel goes through the cross, and that powerful word changes hearts, it heals churches, and it upends the whole world.
