1 COR 1:18 Parallel Verse View

Note: This view shows ‘verses’ which are not natural language units and hence sometimes only part of a sentence will be visible—click on any Bible version abbreviation down the left-hand side to see the verse in more of its context. Normally the OET discourages the reading of individual ‘verses’, but this view is only designed as a tool for doing comparisons of different translations—the older translations are further down the page (so you can read up from the bottom to trace the English translation history). The OET segments on this page are still very early looks into the unfinished texts of the Open English Translation of the Bible—please double-check these texts in advance before using in public.

Text critical issues=small word differences Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

OET (OET-RV) Because the account about the execution on a post seems just stupid to non-believers, but on the contrary to us being saved, it’s God’s power,

Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, pink:genitive/possessor, cyan:dative/indirect object.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

ULT For the word of the cross is foolishness to the ones perishing, but to us, the ones being saved, it is the power of God.

UST I do not use wise words, because the message that I proclaim about the death of the Messiah on the cross sounds foolish to people who are bringing destruction on themselves. However, God works powerfully in this message for us whom he is rescuing.

BLB For the message of the cross is foolishness to those indeed perishing, but to us being saved it is the power of God.

AICNT For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

OEB ¶ The message of the cross is indeed mere folly to those who are on the path to ruin, but to us who are on the path of salvation it is the power of God.

WEBBE For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are dying, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

WMBB (Same as above)

NET For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

LSV for the word of the Cross to those indeed perishing is foolishness, and to us—those being saved—it is the power of God,

FBV For the message of the cross is nonsense to those who are lost, but it's the power of God to those of us who are saved.

TCNT For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

T4T Those who are perishing spiritually because they do not believe that message consider that the message about what Christ accomplished when he was nailed to the cross [MTY] is foolish. But to us who are being saved {whom God is saving} spiritually because we believe that message, it demonstrates that God acts powerfully in order to save us.

LEB ¶ For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

BBE For the word of the cross seems foolish to those who are on the way to destruction; but to us who are on the way to salvation it is the power of God.

Moff Those who are doomed to perish find the story of the cross "sheer folly," but it means the power of God for those whom he saves.

Wymth For the Message of the Cross is foolishness to those who are on the way to perdition, but it is the power of God to those whom He is saving.

ASV For the word of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us who are saved it is the power of God.

DRA For the word of the cross, to them indeed that perish, is foolishness; but to them that are saved, that is, to us, it is the power of God.

YLT for the word of the cross to those indeed perishing is foolishness, and to us — those being saved — it is the power of God,

Drby For the word of the cross is to them that perish foolishness, but to us that are saved it is [fn]God's power.

1.18 Elohim

RV For the word of the cross is to them that are perishing foolishness; but unto us which are being saved it is the power of God.

SLT For truly the word of the cross to them perishing is foolishness; but to us saved it is the power of God.

Wbstr For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish, foolishness; but to us who are saved, it is the power of God.

KJB-1769 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

KJB-1611 For the preaching of the Crosse is to them that perish, foolishnesse: but vnto vs which are saued, it is the power of God.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from capitalisation and punctuation)

Bshps For the preachyng of the crosse, is to them that perishe foolishnesse: but vnto vs which are saued, it is the power of God.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from punctuation)

Gnva For that preaching of the crosse is to them that perish, foolishnesse: but vnto vs, which are saued, it is the power of God.
(For that preaching of the cross is to them that perish, foolishness: but unto us, which are saved, it is the power of God. )

Cvdl For the worde of ye crosse is foolishnesse to the that perishe but vnto vs which are saued, it is the power of God.
(For the word of ye/you_all cross is foolishness to the that perish but unto us which are saved, it is the power of God.)

TNT For the preachinge of the crosse is to them that perisshe folishnes: but vnto vs which are saved it is the power of God.
(For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishnes: but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. )

Wycl For the word of the cros is foli to hem that perischen; but to hem that ben maad saaf, that is to seie, to vs, it is the vertu of God.
(For the word of the cross is folly to hem that perishing; but to hem that been made safe, that is to say, to us, it is the virtue of God.)

Luth Denn das Wort vom Kreuz ist eine Torheit denen, die verloren werden; uns aber, die wir selig werden, ist es eine Gotteskraft.
(Because the word from_the cross(n) is a/one folly those, the lost become; us/to_us/ourselves but, the we/us blessed become, is it a/one God’skraft.)

ClVg Verbum enim crucis pereuntibus quidem stultitia est: iis autem qui salvi fiunt, id est nobis, Dei virtus est.[fn]
(The_word/saying because cross/frame pereuntibus indeed foolishness it_is: to_them however who/which be_saved are_made, that it_is us, of_God virtue it_is. )

1.18 Pereuntibus. Id est sapientibus mundi, quorum et sapientia perit, et falsa ostenditur, et ipsi damnandi sunt. Dei virtus. Dum occisus diabolum vicit, et hominem liberavit, vel virtutem dat credentibus per quam fiunt miracula, cum res exigit.

1.18 They_perishibus. That it_is to_the_wise world, whose and wisdom perishes, and false is_shown, and themselves damnandi are. of_God virtue. While killed/ruined devil won, and man delivered, or virtue gives to_believers through how are_made miracles, when/with thing demands.

UGNT ὁ λόγος γὰρ ὁ τοῦ σταυροῦ, τοῖς μὲν ἀπολλυμένοις μωρία ἐστίν; τοῖς δὲ σῳζομένοις ἡμῖν δύναμις Θεοῦ ἐστιν.
(ho logos gar ho tou staurou, tois men apollumenois mōria estin; tois de sōizomenois haʸmin dunamis Theou estin.)

SBL-GNT Ὁ λόγος γὰρ ὁ τοῦ σταυροῦ τοῖς μὲν ἀπολλυμένοις μωρία ἐστίν, τοῖς δὲ σῳζομένοις ἡμῖν δύναμις θεοῦ ἐστιν.
(Ho logos gar ho tou staurou tois men apollumenois mōria estin, tois de sōizomenois haʸmin dunamis theou estin.)

RP-GNT Ὁ λόγος γὰρ ὁ τοῦ σταυροῦ τοῖς μὲν ἀπολλυμένοις μωρία ἐστίν, τοῖς δὲ σῳζομένοις ἡμῖν δύναμις θεοῦ ἐστιν.
(Ho logos gar ho tou staurou tois men apollumenois mōria estin, tois de sōizomenois haʸmin dunamis theou estin.)

TC-GNT Ὁ λόγος γὰρ ὁ τοῦ σταυροῦ τοῖς μὲν ἀπολλυμένοις μωρία ἐστί, τοῖς δὲ σῳζομένοις ἡμῖν δύναμις Θεοῦ ἐστι.
(Ho logos gar ho tou staurou tois men apollumenois mōria esti, tois de sōizomenois haʸmin dunamis Theou esti. )

Key for above GNTs: yellow:punctuation differs, red:words differ (from our SR-GNT base).

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 1:10–2:16: Believers should not divide up into competing factions. They should be united by true wisdom, the message of the cross.

In this section Paul wrote about a serious problem in the Corinthian church. The Corinthian believers were dividing up into competing groups. They were following whichever human leader they admired the most. Paul tried to solve this problem by reminding the Corinthians of the message of the cross. He wanted them to stop following human wisdom and to follow God’s wisdom.

Paragraph 1:18–19

God made it possible for people to know him only through believing his message about Christ and his death. He has destroyed all human cleverness.

1:18a

For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing,

¶ For the message/talk about Christ dying on the cross seems like nonsense to people who are perishing.
¶ People who are headed toward ruin/destruction think/say that the message about Christ dying on the cross is foolish talk.

For: The Greek conjunction that the BSB translates as For introduces a more detailed explanation of what Paul said in 1:17. In 1:17 he said that Christ sent him to preach the gospel, the message about the “cross of Christ.” He also said that he did not preach “with words of human wisdom.” Beginning in 1:18, Paul explained why the message about the cross is so important, and why human wisdom is not important.

Several English versions do not translate this conjunction.

the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing: In this verse part Paul talked about how unbelievers think about the gospel message. They think it is foolishness. Some other ways to translate this are:

The teaching about the cross is foolishness to those who are being lost (NCV)

The message about the cross doesn’t make any sense to lost people. (CEV)

The message about the cross is nonsense to those who are being destroyed, (GW)

the message of the cross: The phrase the message of the cross refers to the gospel. It is the message that Christ died on a cross to save people/humans from sin and eternal death.

the message…is foolishness: People who are not saved think that the message about a crucified Savior is foolishness, or nonsense. Another way to translate this text is to use an adjectival phrase. For example:

a foolish message

a nonsensical message

However, in your language it may not be natural to say that a message is “foolish.” It may be more natural to say that the people who tell this message are foolish. For example:

a message that foolish people tell

those who are perishing: In 1:18a-b Paul divided people into two groups. The first group is made up of those who do not believe God’s message about Christ. He called this group those who are perishing. These people, who are now separated from God, will one day be separated from God eternally. Some other possible ways to translate it are:

those who are headed for destruction (NLT)

those who are on the way to ruin (NJB)

people who will be forever separated from God

1:18b

but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

However, to us^(incl) who God is saving/delivering from sin, this message is God’s powerful way to save us.
But we^(incl) who have salvation know that God powerfully saves people through the message of the cross.

to us who are being saved: Here Paul wrote about the second group of humans. These are people who accept/believe God’s message about Christ. God is already saving these people, and they are already on their way to live with God forever/eternally. God’s power is now at work in their lives to forgive their wrongdoing.

God helps believers stop doing things that do not please him.

This is a passive clause. In some languages it is more natural to translate this clause using an active verb. For example:

to us^(incl) whom God is saving from sin

it is the power of God: The Greek text of this clause means “it is the means through which God works powerfully to save us^(incl).” The good news is that God has the power to save people from sin and eternal death through Christ’s death on the cross.

General Comment on 1:18

In this verse Paul indicated/contrasted the difference between people who are perishing, and people who are being saved. In some languages, it may be more natural to make these two groups of people the subjects of the sentences. For example:

^18aPeople who are perishing think that the message about Christ dying on the cross for them does not make sense. ^18bBut we^(incl) whom God is saving know that this message is the way that God works powerfully in people’s hearts to save them.

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-logic-result

γὰρ

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ὁ λόγος γάρ ὁ τοῦ σταυροῦ τοῖς μέν ἀπολλυμένοις μωρία ἐστίν τοῖς δέ σῳζομένοις ἡμῖν δύναμις Θεοῦ ἐστίν)

Here, For introduces an explanation of the last part of [1:17](../01/17.md). In this verse, then, Paul explains further why he does not use wise speech. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express this connection with words that introduce an explanation, and you could briefly restate what Paul is explaining. Alternate translation: [I speak in this way because]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / possession

ὁ λόγος & ὁ τοῦ σταυροῦ

¬which (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ὁ λόγος γάρ ὁ τοῦ σταυροῦ τοῖς μέν ἀπολλυμένοις μωρία ἐστίν τοῖς δέ σῳζομένοις ἡμῖν δύναμις Θεοῦ ἐστίν)

Here Paul uses the possessive form to speak about a word or a teaching that is about the cross. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express this form by clarifying that the cross is the content of the word. Alternate translation: [the word about the cross]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

τοῦ σταυροῦ

˱of˲_the cross

Here, the word cross stands for the event in which Jesus died on the cross. If it would be helpful in your language, you could include Jesus’ death in your translation. Alternate translation: [of Jesus’s death on the cross]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

μωρία ἐστίν

foolishness ˱it˲_is

If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea behind foolishness, you could express the idea by using an adjective such as “foolish.” Alternate translation: [seems foolish]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

τοῖς & ἀπολλυμένοις

˱to˲_the_‹ones› & perishing

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you could express the idea in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Paul uses the passive form here to focus on the ones perishing rather than focusing on the person who makes them “perish.” If you must state who does the action, Paul could imply that: (1) they cause or experience the action. Alternate translation: [to those who will experience destruction] (2) God does the action. Alternate translation: [to those whom God will destroy]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

τοῖς δὲ σῳζομένοις ἡμῖν

˱to˲_the_‹ones› ˱to˲_the_‹ones› (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ὁ λόγος γάρ ὁ τοῦ σταυροῦ τοῖς μέν ἀπολλυμένοις μωρία ἐστίν τοῖς δέ σῳζομένοις ἡμῖν δύναμις Θεοῦ ἐστίν)

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can express the idea in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Paul uses the passive form here to focus on the ones being saved rather than the person doing the “saving.” If you must state who does the action, Paul implies that “God” does it. Alternate translation: [but to us whom God is saving]

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / distinguish

τοῖς δὲ σῳζομένοις ἡμῖν

The description the ones being saved distinguishes us from everyone else. It is not just adding information. Use a form in your language that shows that this is a distinguishing phrase. Alternate translation: [but to us, that is, the ones who are being saved]

Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / possession

δύναμις Θεοῦ ἐστιν

˓the˒_power ˱of˲_God (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ὁ λόγος γάρ ὁ τοῦ σταυροῦ τοῖς μέν ἀπολλυμένοις μωρία ἐστίν τοῖς δέ σῳζομένοις ἡμῖν δύναμις Θεοῦ ἐστίν)

Here Paul uses the possessive form to describe power that comes from God. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express this form by clarifying that God is the source of the power. Alternate translation: [power from God] or [God working in power]

Parallel 1 COR 1:18

Section 1:10–2:16: Believers should not divide up into competing factions. They should be united by true wisdom, the message of the cross.

Paragraph 1:18–19

1:18a

1:18b

General Comment on 1:18

Parallel 1 COR 1:18