Why the Cross Is Foolishness to the World — 1 Corinthians 1:18-25

B26L3 Why did the brilliant Greek philosophers on Mars Hill call the apostle Paul a "babbler"? In this verse-by-verse study of 1 Corinthians 1:17-27, Les Feldick reveals the stunning contrast between the world's wisdom and the simple preaching of the cross — a message that the lost world dismisses as utter foolishness. Yet it is this very "foolishness" that God uses to save those who believe and to shame the wise, the mighty, and the noble of this world. This lesson picks up at verse 17, where Paul declares that Christ sent him not to baptize but to preach the gospel — not with eloquent wisdom or intellectual philosophy, but with the raw, unadorned message of Christ crucified. Les explains why the preaching of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing but the power of God to those who are being saved. He contrasts the Jewish demand for signs and miracles with the Greek obsession with philosophy and higher learning, showing how both miss the simple truth of the gospel. The study cross-references Romans 1:21-22, where those who professed themselves to be wise became fools, and traces the pattern of God using signs throughout Israel's history — from Moses and Aaron before Pharaoh to Elijah on Mount Carmel. Les then unpacks verses 24-27, revealing that not many wise, mighty, or noble are called — instead, God chooses the foolish, weak, and despised things of the world to confound the wise, using Moses as the prime example of a man God had to strip of all earthly power before He could use him. 📖 Key Topics Covered: 1 Corinthians 1:17 — why Paul was sent to preach the gospel, not to baptize 1 Corinthians 1:18 — why the preaching of the cross is foolishness to those who perish Romans 1:21-22 — how the world's wisdom made them fools who pushed God out 1 Corinthians 1:22 — why Jews demand signs and Greeks seek after wisdom Acts 17 — why the Athenian philosophers called Paul a "babbler" on Mars Hill 1 Corinthians 1:23-24 — Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews, foolishness to Greeks 1 Corinthians 1:25-27 — why God chooses the foolish, weak, and despised over the wise and mighty Moses as the example: from prince of Egypt to a lowly shepherd before God could use him This study of 1 Corinthians 1 covers the difference between John the Baptist's commission to baptize and Paul's commission to preach the gospel. Les Feldick Bible Study brings you verse-by-verse Bible teaching that makes the scriptures come alive. Whether you're a new believer or have studied the Bible for decades, these teachings will deepen your understanding of God's Word. 📖 Visit our website: www.lesfeldickbiblestudy.com If this study blessed you, please LIKE the video and SHARE it with someone who needs to hear this teaching. 00:00 — Introduction: 1 Corinthians 1:17 — Preaching the Gospel, Not Baptizing 00:28 — Review: Paul's Commission vs. John the Baptist's Commission to Baptize 02:13 — Verse 17: Not with Wisdom of Words — The Holy Spirit Opens Hearts 03:10 — Paul at Philippi: The Lord Opened Lydia's Heart (Acts 16) 03:55 — Paul Didn't Come with Intellectual Degrees but the Simplicity of the Gospel 04:21 — The Greek Culture: Obsessed with Philosophy and New Ideas 05:01 — Verse 18: The Preaching of the Cross Is Foolishness to Those Who Perish 05:48 — A Man's Question: "Who in the World Is Jesus Christ?" 06:36 — A Lady's Testimony: "I Never Knew Why Christ Died Until Now" 07:22 — The World Dismisses the Cross — Thousands Were Crucified by Rome 08:15 — Verse 19: God Will Destroy the Wisdom of the Wise 08:54 — Verse 20: Where Is the Wise? Where Is the Disputer of This World? 09:24 — Romans 1:21-22 — Professing Themselves Wise, They Became Fools 10:52 — Verse 21: The World by Its Wisdom Knew Not God 11:45 — Evolution and Secular Humanism: Pushing God Out of Human Knowledge 12:36 — It Pleased God by the Foolishness of Preaching to Save Those Who Believe 13:28 — Faith Plus Nothing — Not Degrees, Not Repentance and Baptism 14:33 — Verse 22: The Jews Require a Sign, the Greeks Seek After Wisdom 15:26 — Verse 23: We Preach Christ Crucified — Not the Jesus of Galilee 16:22 — Christ Crucified: A Stumbling Block to Jews, Foolishness to Greeks 17:05 — Paul Called a "Babbler" by the Philosophers on Mars Hill (Acts 17) 18:01 — Why Jews Demand Signs: From Moses and Aaron to Elijah on Mount Carmel 19:49 — Christ's Earthly Miracles Were to Convince Israel of Who He Was 20:30 — Paul Refuses Both Signs and Philosophy — He Preaches Christ Crucified 21:00 — A Young Lady Saved Simply Through the Teaching of the Word 22:28 — Verse 24: Christ the Power of God and the Wisdom of God 23:25 — Verse 25: The Foolishness of God Is Wiser Than Men 24:09 — The Weakness of God Is Stronger Than Men — Turning the Other Cheek 24:51 — Verse 26: Not Many Wise, Mighty, or Noble Are Called 25:33 — God Doesn't Use the People We Think He Should Use 26:19 — Moses: From Prince of Egypt to a Lowly Shepherd Before God Could Use Him