1 Corinthians 1:23 (DBY)

Passage

but *we* preach Christ crucified, to Jews an offence, and to nations foolishness;

Nearby Context

1 Corinthians 1:21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world by wisdom has not known God, God has been pleased by the foolishness of the preaching to save those that believe.

1 Corinthians 1:22 Since Jews indeed ask for signs, and Greeks seek wisdom;

1 Corinthians 1:23 but *we* preach Christ crucified, to Jews an offence, and to nations foolishness;

1 Corinthians 1:24 but to those that [are] called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ God's power and God's wisdom.

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", "offence", "nations", 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 "Since Jews indeed ask for signs and..." into verse 24's "but to those 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.