Daily Devotions

1 Corinthians

1 Corinthians 
Day 
Day 21

"We preach Christ crucified..."

Text: 1 Corinthians 1:23

THE PREACHING OF THE CROSS

The Apostle Paul was deeply committed to the preaching of Christ crucified. He explained why.

“For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom;
but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block
and to the Greeks foolishness.”
1 Corinthians 1:22-23

1. “For Jews request a sign”

a) The word “request” is just a polite expression.
b) Hidden behind the word “request” was a demand.
c) The word “sign” is singular in the NKJV text.
d) In other texts, the word is in the plural.
e) The meaning:
i) Even if a sign is given it would not be sufficient for the Jews.
ii) They will keep asking for sign after sign.
iii) The Jews in the days of Jesus “requested” a sign from Jesus (Matthew 12:38).
iv) Jesus refused to comply; the sign would be the sign of Jonah, a cryptic reference to His resurrection (Matthew 12:39).

2. “And Greeks seek after wisdom”

a) From the earliest time the Greeks had sought after “wisdom”.
b) Many philosophers had emerged from their midst (Plato, Aristotle, Epicurus etc).
c) But for all their effort they did not end up having a good knowledge of God.

3. “But we preach Christ crucified”

a) This was God’s message.
b) The Apostles were committed to preaching this message.
c) They refused to change their message to suit the Jews or the Greeks.

4. “To the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness”

a) The Jews had already made up their minds to reject the Lord Jesus Christ as the Messiah.
Thus, to preach Jesus as the Christ was a stumbling block.
b) The Greeks could not appreciate the meaning and significance of a message that focuses on Christ crucified!
Thus, to them this message was “foolishness”.
c) Paul was fully aware of these reactions from both quarters. Nevertheless, he remained resolute!