1 Corinthians 1:23 bbe — But we give the good news of Christ on the cross, a hard thing to the Jews, and a foolish thing to the Gentiles;

Bible in Basic English

"But we give the good news of Christ on the cross, a hard thing to the Jews, and a foolish thing to the Gentiles;"

— 1 Corinthians 1:23, Bible in Basic English

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1 Corinthians 1:23 in Other Translations

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1 Corinthians 1 — Context

20

Where is the wise? where is he who has knowledge of the law? where is the man of this world who has a love of discussion? has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?

21

For because, by the purpose of God, the world, with all its wisdom, had not the knowledge of God, it was God's pleasure, by so foolish a thing as preaching, to give salvation to those who had faith in him.

22

Seeing that the Jews make request for signs, and the Greeks are looking for knowledge:

23

But we give the good news of Christ on the cross, a hard thing to the Jews, and a foolish thing to the Gentiles;

24

But to those of God's selection, Jews and Greeks, Christ is the power and the wisdom of God.

25

Because what seems foolish in God is wiser than men; and what seems feeble in God is stronger than men.

26

For you see God's design for you, my brothers, that he has not taken a great number of the wise after the flesh, not the strong, not the noble:

1 Corinthians 1:23 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does 1 Corinthians 1:23 say?
1 Corinthians 1:23 in the Bible in Basic English reads: “But we give the good news of Christ on the cross, a hard thing to the Jews, and a foolish thing to the Gentiles;”
Where is 1 Corinthians 1:23 in the Bible?
1 Corinthians 1:23 is found in the New Testament, in the book of 1 Corinthians, chapter 1, verse 23.
Who wrote 1 Corinthians?
1 Corinthians is traditionally attributed to Paul the Apostle. It was written c. AD 55.
What is the book of 1 Corinthians about?
Paul writes to a gifted but fractured church wrestling with divisions, sexual sin, lawsuits, marriage questions, food offered to idols, and disorder in worship. Through every issue he points back to the cross, the Spirit, and the resurrection — and gives us the church's greatest chapter on love.
What are the major themes of 1 Corinthians?
1 Corinthians explores themes including Unity, Cross, Spiritual Gifts, Love, Resurrection. These themes shape the meaning and context of 1 Corinthians 1:23.
What translation should I read 1 Corinthians 1:23 in?
1 Corinthians 1:23 is available on GodsGoodBook in the King James Version (KJV), American Standard Version (ASV), World English Bible (WEB), NET Bible, Young's Literal Translation, Darby Bible, Douay-Rheims Bible, and the Bible in Basic English. Each translation reflects different translation philosophies — use the translation picker on this page to compare them, or browse our full translations directory.
How can I memorize 1 Corinthians 1:23?
1 Corinthians 1:23 reads (BBE): “But we give the good news of Christ on the cross, a hard thing to the Jews, and a foolish thing to the Gentiles;” Read it aloud, break it into short phrases, repeat each phrase three times before adding the next, then put the phrases together. Reading it in multiple translations (above) often helps the meaning settle.
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