SEV Biblia, Chapter 1:18
Porque la Palabra del madero a la verdad es locura a los que se pierden; mas a los que se salvan, es a decir, a nosotros, es potencia de Dios.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - 1 Corinthians 1:18
Verse 18. For the preaching of the cross] o logov gar o staurou, The doctrine of the cross; or the doctrine that is of or concerning the cross; that is, the doctrine that proclaims salvation to a lost world through the crucifixion of Christ. Is to them that perish foolishness] There are, properly speaking, but two classes of men known where the Gospel is preached: apollumenoi, the unbelievers and gainsayers, who are perishing; and sozomenoi, the obedient believers, who are in a state of salvation. To those who will continue in the first state, the preaching of salvation through the merit of a crucified saviour is folly. To those who believe this doctrine of Christ crucified is the power of God to their salvation; it is divinely efficacious to deliver them from all the power, guilt, and pollution of sin.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 18. For the preaching of the cross , etc.] Not of the Christians cross, which he is to take up and bear for the sake of Christ; though this is a doctrine taught by Christ, and his apostles, and found to be true by the saints in all ages; and is what is had in great aversion and contempt, being very disagreeable to the natural man: but of the cross of Christ, the doctrine of salvation by a crucified Christ; or the doctrine of peace and reconciliation by the blood of his cross, and of righteousness, pardon, atonement, and satisfaction by the offering up of himself upon it as a sacrifice for sin, is here intended; and which is foolishness in the esteem of many; and that because mans wisdom has no hand either in forming the scheme of it, or in the discovery of it to the sons of men; and besides, being revealed, it is very disagreeable to the carnal reason of man. This way of preaching is very impolite and unfashionable, and therefore despised; it is a doctrine which is not received by the wise and learned, but has been in all ages loaded with reproach, stigmatized either as a novel or licentious doctrine, and attended with persecution; though the only doctrine God owns for conversion, which administers comfort to distressed souls, and is food for the faith of believers; yea, it is a display of the highest wisdom; is what angels approve of, and desire to look into; is wiser than the wisdom of men; it has made foolish the wisdom of this world, and is what is only able to make a man wise unto salvation; and yet this doctrine is accounted foolish, yea foolishness itself; but to whom is it so? to them that perish . All mankind are in a lost and perishing condition, by reason of sin, and want of righteousness. There are some who shall not perish; the Father has chose them unto salvation, the Son has redeemed them, and the Spirit sanctifies them; but there are others who do perish in their sins; wicked and ungodly men, Carried away with their own lusts and blinded by Satan, the god of this world: these are they that are lost, to whom the Gospel is hid, and who judge it foolishness; but their judgment of it is not to be regarded, being no more capable to judge of the glory and wisdom of the Gospel, than a blind man is of colours: but unto us which are saved; who are chosen in Christ unto salvation; whose persons and grace are secured in Christ, and in the everlasting covenant; for whom Christ has wrought out salvation; and to whom it is applied by the Spirit of God; and who are kept unto the full enjoyment of it by divine grace: to these it is the power of God ; organically or instrumentally; it being the means of quickening them when dead in sin, of enlightening their dark minds, of unstopping their deaf ears, of softening their hard hearts, and of enemies making them friends to God, Christ, and his people: and it is likewise so declaratively, there being a wonderful display of the power of God in the ministration of it; as may be seen when observed who were the first preachers of it, men of no figure in life, of no education, illiterate mechanics, very mean and abject; into these earthen vessels were put the treasure of the Gospel, that the excellency of the power might appear to be of God, and not man; as also the doctrine they preached, a crucified Christ, disagreeable to the wisdom of men; the manner in which they spread it, not by force of arms, by carnal weapons, but spiritual ones; moreover, the opposition they met with from rabbins, philosophers, princes, kings, and emperors, and all the states and powers of the world; and yet in how short a time, maugre all opposition, did they carry the Gospel throughout the whole world, to the conversion of millions of souls, and the planting of churches everywhere; and which Gospel has continued and increased, notwithstanding the efforts of persecutors and false teachers, and all the power and artifice of men and devils; all which can be attributed to nothing else but the mighty power of God: add to this, that the Gospel is the power of God in the esteem of the saints, who know it to be so by inward experience; they have felt the power of it on their hearts; it has wrought effectually in them, and therefore they are the best judges, and are capable of giving the best account of it.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 17-25 - Paul had been bred up in Jewish learning; but the plain preaching of crucified Jesus, was more powerful than all the oratory and philosoph of the heathen world. This is the sum and substance of the gospel Christ crucified is the foundation of all our hopes, the fountain of all our joys. And by his death we live. The preaching of salvation for lost sinners by the sufferings and death of the Son of God, i explained and faithfully applied, appears foolishness to those in the way to destruction. The sensual, the covetous, the proud, an ambitious, alike see that the gospel opposes their favourite pursuits But those who receive the gospel, and are enlightened by the Spirit of God, see more of God's wisdom and power in the doctrine of Chris crucified, than in all his other works. God left a great part of the world to follow the dictates of man's boasted reason, and the event ha shown that human wisdom is folly, and is unable to find or retain the knowledge of God as the Creator. It pleased him, by the foolishness of preaching, to save them that believe. By the foolishness of preaching not by what could justly be called foolish preaching. But the thin preached was foolishness to wordly-wise men. The gospel ever was, an ever will be, foolishness to all in the road to destruction. The message of Christ, plainly delivered, ever has been a sure touchston by which men may learn what road they are travelling. But the despise doctrine of salvation by faith in a crucified Saviour, God in huma nature, purchasing the church with his own blood, to save multitudes even all that believe, from ignorance, delusion, and vice, has bee blessed in every age. And the weakest instruments God uses, ar stronger in their effects, than the strongest men can use. Not tha there is foolishness or weakness in God, but what men consider as such overcomes all their admired wisdom and strength.
Greek Textus Receptus
ο 3588 T-NSM λογος 3056 N-NSM γαρ 1063 CONJ ο 3588 T-NSM του 3588 T-GSM σταυρου 4716 N-GSM τοις 3588 T-DPM μεν 3303 PRT απολλυμενοις 622 5730 V-PEP-DPM μωρια 3472 N-NSF εστιν 2076 5748 V-PXI-3S τοις 3588 T-DPM δε 1161 CONJ σωζομενοις 4982 5746 V-PPP-DPM ημιν 2254 P-1DP δυναμις 1411 N-NSF θεου 2316 N-GSM εστιν 2076 5748 V-PXI-3S
Vincent's NT Word Studies
18. The word of the cross (o logov o tou staurou). Lit., the word, that, namely, of the cross. The second article is definitive and emphatic. The word of which the substance and purport is the cross.To them that perish (toiv apollumenoiv). Lit., that are perishing. So Rev. The present participle denotes process: they who are on the way to destruction. Compare 2 Cor. ii. 15.
Foolishness (mwria). Only in this epistle. See on have lost his savor, Matt. v. 13.
Which are saved (toiv swzomenoiv). Rev., being saved: in process of salvation.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
1:18 {For the word of the cross} (ho logos gar ho tou staurou). Literally, "for the preaching (with which I am concerned as the opposite of {wisdom of word} in verse #17) that (repeated article ho, almost demonstrative) of the cross."Through this incidental allusion to preaching St. Paul passes to a new subject. The discussions in the Corinthian Church are for a time forgotten, and he takes the opportunity of correcting his converts for their undue exaltation of human eloquence and wisdom" (Lightfoot). {To them that are perishing} (tois men apollumenois). Dative of disadvantage (personal interest). Present middle participle is here timeless, those in the path to destruction (not annihilation. See #2Th 2:10). Cf. #2Co 4:3. {Foolishness} (mwria). Folly. Old word from mwros, foolish. In N.T. only in #1Co 1:18,21,23; 2:14; 3:19. {But unto us which are being saved} (tois swzomenois hemin). Sharp contrast to those that are perishing and same construction with the articular participle. No reason for the change of pronouns in English. this present passive participle is again timeless. Salvation is described by Paul as a thing done in the past, "we were saved" (#Ro 8:24), as a present state, "ye have been saved" (#Ep 2:5), as a process, "ye are being saved" (#1Co 15:2), as a future result, "thou shalt be saved" (#Ro 10:9). {The power of God} (dunamis qeou). So in #Ro 1:16. No other message has this dynamite of God (#1Co 4:20). God's power is shown in the preaching of the Cross of Christ through all the ages, now as always. No other preaching wins men and women from sin to holiness or can save them. The judgment of Paul here is the verdict of every soul winner through all time.
