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Outline 067 of 100 · 1 Corinthians

The Foolishness of the Cross

1 Corinthians 1:18-31 — The cross as God's wisdom confounding human pride

Hands-free narration of this study — good for the car.

Synopsis

To a Corinth obsessed with eloquence and status, Paul declares that 'the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.' God has deliberately chosen what the world calls foolish and weak to confound the wise and mighty, so that no flesh should glory in His presence. The cross is offensive to both Jew, who sought signs, and Greek, who sought wisdom, because it offers neither miraculous spectacle nor philosophical sophistication but a crucified Savior. Yet to those called, Christ is both the power and wisdom of God. Paul's own converts prove the point — not many wise, mighty, or noble were called, so that boasting would be excluded and all glorying would be in the Lord. Righteousness by faith is inherently humbling, for it strips away every human claim to wisdom or merit and centers everything in the crucified Christ.

  1. I. The offense described

    • Foolishness to those who perish
    • A stumbling block to Jews seeking signs
    • Foolishness to Greeks seeking wisdom

  2. II. The power revealed

    • The power of God to them that believe
    • God destroying the wisdom of the wise
    • Confounding what the world calls strong

  3. III. The choice of the lowly

    • Not many wise, mighty, or noble called
    • The foolish things chosen to confound the wise
    • The weak things chosen to confound the mighty

  4. IV. The glory redirected

    • No flesh should glory in His presence
    • Christ made unto us wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, redemption
    • "He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord"
The appeal

The cross may look foolish to the world's wisdom, but to you who believe, it is the very power of God. Will you stop seeking your own wisdom or standing and glory only in what Christ has done?

Key points

  • The cross is deliberately offensive to worldly wisdom and pride.
  • God chooses the weak and lowly to confound the strong and wise.
  • All boasting is excluded so that glory belongs to Christ alone.

Key passages

  • 1 Corinthians 1:18
  • 1 Corinthians 1:23-24
  • 1 Corinthians 1:27-29
  • 1 Corinthians 1:31