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. 19 For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the learning of the learned I will set aside.” Where is the wise one? 20 Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made the wisdom of the world foolish? 21 For since in the wisdom of God the world did not come to know God through wisdom, it was the will of God through the foolishness of the proclamation to save those who have faith. 22 For Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, 23 but we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 24 but to those who are called, Jews and Greeks alike, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.
Paul told the community at Corinth that the message of the cross appears to be foolishness to those who are perishing, i.e. those who reject the message of the Gospel because it challenges human wisdom and expectations. Such individuals are spiritually lost and face the consequences of eternal separation from God. In contrast, those who believe have accepted the message of the cross and are experiencing ongoing transformation and salvation through their faith in Christ. Paul quoted the OT prophet Isaiah to strengthen his message of Christ crucified. Wisdom based on human understanding alone is folly when compared to the truth revealed by God (Is. 29:14). Paul stated that those who were intellectually superior failed to recognize God’s wisdom as given to humanity through Christ crucified. The world failed to come to the knowledge of God through its own wisdom, so God revealed himself through the foolishness of the proclamation of the Gospel by Christ so that those who have faith may be saved. Through rational thinking, man did not understand that God acted through Christ. God’s plan of salvation through Christ crucified defied human logic.
A crucified Christ cannot be understood by Jews because they want to see miraculous, apocalyptic signs as evidence of God’s favor. It also cannot be understood by Greeks who valued philosophical wisdom, logic, and intellectual prowess to comprehend man’s salvation through the ‘foolishness’ of a Crucified Christ. Jesus preached a message of humility, sacrificial love, and spiritual redemption. Many Jews expected a powerful and triumphant Messiah who would restore Israel's political independence and sovereignty as prophesied in the Old Testament scriptures. The Christian message of a crucified Messiah was offensive and challenging since crucifixion was a form of execution reserved for criminals and enemies of the state. That was not the fate expected for a conquering Messiah. The cross also did not make sense to Gentiles who valued power, strength, and wisdom. The concept of a crucified individual being revered as a divine figure or as the Savior of the world and allowing himself to suffer, be humiliated, and die to redeem humanity would have been absurd, repugnant, and nonsensical to the prevailing cultural norms and values of the Greco-Roman world. Yet, for those who have faith, the cross is the ultimate expression of God's love and power. God’s power and strength are superior to human wisdom and strength. God is sovereign and there are limitations to human understanding. The apparent weakness of the cross becomes the source of divine strength and salvation for believers.
Almighty God, through the cross you reveal Your sovereignty, wisdom, and power. Help us to embrace the message of Christ crucified, even when it seems foolish to others. Grant us the grace to trust in Your divine plan and find in the cross the true source of salvation and hope. This we pray through Christ our Lord. Amen! Alleluia!
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References
Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.
Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Upper Saddle River, NJ, United States, Prentice Hall, 1990.
Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.
Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Upper Saddle River, NJ, United States, Prentice Hall, 1990.
Orchard, Bernard, et al. A Catholic Commentary on Holy Scripture. Feb. 1953.
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