Commentaries:
Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown
For--literally, "Since," seeing that. This verse illustrates how the "preaching" of Christ crucified came to be deemed "foolishness" (1 Corinthians 1:21).
a sign--The oldest manuscripts read "signs." The singular was a later correction from Matthew 12:38; Matthew 16:1; John 2:18. The signs the Jews craved for were not mere miracles, but direct tokens from heaven that Jesus was Messiah (Luke 11:16).
Greeks seek . . . wisdom--namely, a philosophic demonstration of Christianity. Whereas Christ, instead of demonstrative proof, demands faith on the ground of His word, and of a reasonable amount of evidence that the alleged revelation is His word. Christianity begins not with solving intellectual difficulties, but with satisfying the heart that longs for forgiveness. Hence not the refined Greeks, but the theocratic Jews were the chosen organ for propagating revelation. Again, intellectual Athens (Acts 17:18-21, etc.) received the Gospel less readily than commercial Corinth.
Other commentary entries containing this verse:
Acts 10:36-38
1 Corinthians 1:20
1 Corinthians 1:20
1 Corinthians 2:13
1 Corinthians 2:14
1 Corinthians 6:5
2 Corinthians 10:12
Ephesians 1:8
1 Timothy 1:15
DISCLAIMER: Church of the Great God (CGG) provides these resources to aid the individual in studying the Bible. However, it is up to the individual to "prove all things, and hold fast to that which is good" (I Thessalonians 5:21). The content of these resources does not necessarily reflect the views of CGG. They are provided for information purposes only.
E-mail this page
