1 Corinthians 1:18

NET Bible® (New English Translation)

The Message of the Cross For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

Additional Resources

Referenced Verses

  • 1 Cor 2:14 : 14 The unbeliever does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him. And he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.
  • 1 Cor 1:23-25 : 23 but we preach about a crucified Christ, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles. 24 But to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.
  • Rom 1:16 : 16 The Power of the Gospel For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is God’s power for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
  • 2 Cor 4:3 : 3 But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled only to those who are perishing,
  • 2 Thess 2:10 : 10 and with every kind of evil deception directed against those who are perishing, because they found no place in their hearts for the truth so as to be saved.
  • Heb 4:12 : 12 For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any double-edged sword, piercing even to the point of dividing soul from spirit, and joints from marrow; it is able to judge the desires and thoughts of the heart.
  • 1 Cor 1:21 : 21 For since in the wisdom of God the world by its wisdom did not know God, God was pleased to save those who believe by the foolishness of preaching.
  • 1 Cor 2:2 : 2 For I decided to be concerned about nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and him crucified.
  • Acts 13:41 : 41 ‘Look, you scoffers; be amazed and perish! For I am doing a work in your days, a work you would never believe, even if someone tells you.’”
  • Acts 17:18 : 18 Also some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers were conversing with him, and some were asking,“What does this foolish babbler want to say?” Others said,“He seems to be a proclaimer of foreign gods.”(They said this because he was proclaiming the good news about Jesus and the resurrection.)
  • Acts 17:32 : 32 Now when they heard about the resurrection from the dead, some began to scoff, but others said,“We will hear you again about this.”
  • 2 Cor 10:4 : 4 for the weapons of our warfare are not human weapons, but are made powerful by God for tearing down strongholds. We tear down arguments
  • Gal 6:12-14 : 12 Those who want to make a good showing in external matters are trying to force you to be circumcised. They do so only to avoid being persecuted for the cross of Christ. 13 For those who are circumcised do not obey the law themselves, but they want you to be circumcised so that they can boast about your flesh. 14 But may I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.
  • 1 Thess 1:5 : 5 in that our gospel did not come to you merely in words, but in power and in the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction(surely you recall the character we displayed when we came among you to help you).
  • 1 Cor 3:19 : 19 For the wisdom of this age is foolishness with God. As it is written,“He catches the wise in their craftiness.”
  • 1 Cor 15:2 : 2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold firmly to the message I preached to you– unless you believed in vain.
  • 2 Cor 2:15-16 : 15 For we are a sweet aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing– 16 to the latter an odor from death to death, but to the former a fragrance from life to life. And who is adequate for these things?
  • Ps 110:2-3 : 2 The LORD extends your dominion from Zion. Rule in the midst of your enemies! 3 Your people willingly follow you when you go into battle. On the holy hills at sunrise the dew of your youth belongs to you.
  • Acts 2:47 : 47 praising God and having the good will of all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number every day those who were being saved.

Similar Verses (AI)

These verses are found using AI-powered semantic similarity based on meaning and context. Results may occasionally include unexpected connections.

  • 1 Cor 1:19-25
    7 verses
    84%

    19For it is written,“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and I will thwart the cleverness of the intelligent.”

    20Where is the wise man? Where is the expert in the Mosaic law? Where is the debater of this age? Has God not made the wisdom of the world foolish?

    21For since in the wisdom of God the world by its wisdom did not know God, God was pleased to save those who believe by the foolishness of preaching.

    22For Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks ask for wisdom,

    23but we preach about a crucified Christ, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles.

    24But to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God.

    25For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.

  • 1 Cor 1:17
    82%

    17For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel– and not with clever speech, so that the cross of Christ would not become useless.

  • Gal 6:14
    77%

    14But may I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.

  • 1 Cor 2:1-2
    2 verses
    77%

    1When I came to you, brothers and sisters, I did not come with superior eloquence or wisdom as I proclaimed the testimony of God.

    2For I decided to be concerned about nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and him crucified.

  • 1 Cor 2:4-8
    5 verses
    76%

    4My conversation and my preaching were not with persuasive words of wisdom, but with a demonstration of the Spirit and of power,

    5so that your faith would not be based on human wisdom but on the power of God.

    6Wisdom from God Now we do speak wisdom among the mature, but not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are perishing.

    7Instead we speak the wisdom of God, hidden in a mystery, that God determined before the ages for our glory.

    8None of the rulers of this age understood it. If they had known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

  • 1 Cor 3:18-19
    2 verses
    76%

    18Guard against self-deception, each of you. If someone among you thinks he is wise in this age, let him become foolish so that he can become wise.

    19For the wisdom of this age is foolishness with God. As it is written,“He catches the wise in their craftiness.”

  • Rom 1:16-17
    2 verses
    74%

    16The Power of the Gospel For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is God’s power for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

    17For the righteousness of God is revealed in the gospel from faith to faith, just as it is written,“The righteous by faith will live.”

  • 1 Cor 1:27-30
    4 verses
    73%

    27But God chose what the world thinks foolish to shame the wise, and God chose what the world thinks weak to shame the strong.

    28God chose what is low and despised in the world, what is regarded as nothing, to set aside what is regarded as something,

    29so that no one can boast in his presence.

    30He is the reason you have a relationship with Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification and redemption,

  • 2 Cor 4:3-5
    3 verses
    73%

    3But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled only to those who are perishing,

    4among whom the god of this age has blinded the minds of those who do not believe so they would not see the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God.

    5For we do not proclaim ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your slaves for Jesus’ sake.

  • Gal 3:1
    72%

    1Justification by Law or by Faith? You foolish Galatians! Who has cast a spell on you? Before your eyes Jesus Christ was vividly portrayed as crucified!

  • 1 Cor 4:10
    72%

    10We are fools for Christ, but you are wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are distinguished, we are dishonored!

  • 2 Cor 13:3-4
    2 verses
    72%

    3since you are demanding proof that Christ is speaking through me. He is not weak toward you but is powerful among you.

    4For indeed he was crucified by reason of weakness, but he lives because of God’s power. For we also are weak in him, but we will live together with him, because of God’s power toward you.

  • 2 Cor 2:15-16
    2 verses
    71%

    15For we are a sweet aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing–

    16to the latter an odor from death to death, but to the former a fragrance from life to life. And who is adequate for these things?

  • 1 Cor 2:14
    71%

    14The unbeliever does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him. And he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.

  • 1 Thess 1:5
    70%

    5in that our gospel did not come to you merely in words, but in power and in the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction(surely you recall the character we displayed when we came among you to help you).

  • Rom 1:22
    70%

    22Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools

  • Phil 1:28
    70%

    28and by not being intimidated in any way by your opponents. This is a sign of their destruction, but of your salvation– a sign which is from God.

  • 1 Cor 4:20
    70%

    20For the kingdom of God is demonstrated not in idle talk but with power.

  • 1 Cor 1:13
    69%

    13Is Christ divided? Paul wasn’t crucified for you, was he? Or were you in fact baptized in the name of Paul?

  • Eph 1:19
    69%

    19and what is the incomparable greatness of his power toward us who believe, as displayed in the exercise of his immense strength.

  • Gal 5:11
    69%

    11Now, brothers and sisters, if I am still preaching circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been removed.

  • 1 Cor 15:1-3
    3 verses
    69%

    1Christ’s Resurrection Now I want to make clear for you, brothers and sisters, the gospel that I preached to you, that you received and on which you stand,

    2and by which you are being saved, if you hold firmly to the message I preached to you– unless you believed in vain.

    3For I passed on to you as of first importance what I also received– that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures,

  • 2 Thess 2:10
    69%

    10and with every kind of evil deception directed against those who are perishing, because they found no place in their hearts for the truth so as to be saved.

  • 2 Cor 4:7
    69%

    7An Eternal Weight of Glory But we have this treasure in clay jars, so that the extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us.

  • Rom 16:25
    68%

    25Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that had been kept secret for long ages,

  • 2 Cor 5:13
    68%

    13For if we are out of our minds, it is for God; if we are of sound mind, it is for you.

  • Phil 1:16
    68%

    16The latter do so from love because they know that I am placed here for the defense of the gospel.

  • 1 Pet 1:25
    68%

    25but the word of the Lord endures forever. And this is the word that was proclaimed to you.