1 Corinthians 1:23 (ASV)

Passage

but we preach Christ crucified, unto Jews a stumblingblock, and unto Gentiles foolishness;

Nearby Context

1 Corinthians 1:21 For seeing that in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom knew not God, it was God`s good pleasure through the foolishness of the preaching to save them that believe.

1 Corinthians 1:22 Seeing that Jews ask for signs, and Greeks seek after wisdom:

1 Corinthians 1:23 but we preach Christ crucified, unto Jews a stumblingblock, and unto Gentiles foolishness;

1 Corinthians 1:24 but unto them that are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.

1 Corinthians 1:25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "preach", "christ", "crucified", "jews", "stumblingblock", "gentiles", and "foolishness". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "preach" and "christ", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 22's "Seeing that Jews ask for signs and..." into verse 24's "but unto them that are called both...", so "preach" and "christ" belong inside that flow. In 1 Corinthians context, the local focus is Christ, faith, and discipleship.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "preach" and "christ" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.