1 Corinthians 1:22-25 - Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

For the Jews require a sign Demand of the apostles, as they did of their Lord, more signs still, after all they have seen already. And the Greeks Or Gentiles; seek after wisdom The depths of philosophy, and the charms of eloquence. But we preach Christ crucified We proceed to bear our testimony in a plain and historical, not rhetorical or philosophical manner, to the sufferings and death of Christ, endured to expiate the guilt of mankind, and procure for them pardon, holiness, and eternal life: unto the Jews a stumbling-block An occasion of offence, by reason of his mean appearance, his sufferings, and death; they having looked for a glorious and victorious Messiah, who should rescue them from all their enemies, and exalt them to wealth, dignity, and power; and because the profession of Christianity was attended with reproach, and various other sufferings. This doctrine therefore was in direct opposition to the signs which they demanded, and to all their secular expectations; and unto the Greeks foolishness A silly tale, just opposite to the wisdom they seek. But unto them which are called And who obey the call; both Jews and Greeks For the effect is the same on both; Christ With his doctrine, his miracles, his life, his death, his resurrection, &c.; the power of God Creating men anew by his word and Spirit, enabling them to withstand and conquer all their spiritual enemies, and to do with cheerfulness, and suffer with patience, the whole will of God: and the wisdom of God The person by whom God also manifests his infinite wisdom in the contrivance and execution of his plan of redemption and salvation, and the preaching of whom in the gospel, is not such folly as the Greeks count it; but the declaration of that great mystery of godliness, in which are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Because the foolishness of God That preaching of Christ crucified which men account foolishness; is wiser than men Contains more true wisdom than any or all of the apparently wise contrivances of men: or, the lowest expressions of God's wisdom in those actions and dispensations, which are most contrary to the judgment, wisdom, and experience of carnal persons, are incomparably wiser than all the projects which the wit of men can devise; and the weakness of God Those weak means by which God is wont to accomplish his purposes, or the smallest effects of his power; are stronger than men More available than any human power to bring about their designs. In other words, the weakness of Christian teachers which God makes use of will be found to be stronger than all the efforts which men can make, either to reform the world any other way, or to obstruct the prevalence and success of this.