We are wrapping this week of posts up with yet another misused and abused Bible verse. The verse that we are looking at today is I Corinthians 1:21. This verse says:
For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. - KJV
Those who misapply this verse are focusing on the act of preaching. This is completely a wrong interpretation of this verse and in fact, takes away from the gospel. The main proof of this is found in the original language. The word that is translated as “preaching” in the King James Version is actually a noun in the Greek, NOT a verb. It is referring to the message that is preached, not the act of proclaiming or preaching. God has chosen by the foolishness of the message preached to save sinners. It is the message that saves not the act preaching.
There are a couple verses that surround verse 21 the also point to the message not the preaching. The first one is verse 18. It says”
For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
Notice that it is the preaching of the cross that saves. The cross is the message that is preached…that is the gospel. The other verse that adds context is verse 23. It reiterates this point by saying:
But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumbling block, and unto the Greeks foolishness.
Again, it is not that they are preaching, it is what they are preaching. They are preaching Christ crucified…that is the gospel. The focus of verse 21 is not on the act of preaching it is on the gospel message that is preached. It is the gospel message that saves, not simply the act of preaching. The New American Standard Version, which is widely accepted as the most literal translation, is accurate when it says:
For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe.
As you can see when the emphasis is on the act of preaching instead of the message that is to be preached, attention is take away from the gospel and onto the preacher. Do not think that merely the act of preaching can save…it is only the gospel message that saves. To misinterpret this verse in this way is a misuse and abuse of Scripture.
thinkingwithpurpose
We are wrapping this week of posts up with yet another misused and abused Bible verse. The verse that we are looking at today is I Corinthians 1:21. This verse says:
Those who misapply this verse are focusing on the act of preaching. This is completely a wrong interpretation of this verse and in fact, takes away from the gospel. The main proof of this is found in the original language. The word that is translated as “preaching” in the King James Version is actually a noun in the Greek, NOT a verb. It is referring to the message that is preached, not the act of proclaiming or preaching. God has chosen by the foolishness of the message preached to save sinners. It is the message that saves not the act preaching.
There are a couple verses that surround verse 21 the also point to the message not the preaching. The first one is verse 18. It says”
Notice that it is the preaching of the cross that saves. The cross is the message that is preached…that is the gospel. The other verse that adds context is verse 23. It reiterates this point by saying:
Again, it is not that they are preaching, it is what they are preaching. They are preaching Christ crucified…that is the gospel. The focus of verse 21 is not on the act of preaching it is on the gospel message that is preached. It is the gospel message that saves, not simply the act of preaching. The New American Standard Version, which is widely accepted as the most literal translation, is accurate when it says:
As you can see when the emphasis is on the act of preaching instead of the message that is to be preached, attention is take away from the gospel and onto the preacher. Do not think that merely the act of preaching can save…it is only the gospel message that saves. To misinterpret this verse in this way is a misuse and abuse of Scripture.
READ OTHER POSTS IN THIS SERIES
Misused and abused Bible verses- part 1- Hebrews 10:25
Misused and abused Bible verses- part 2- Proverbs 29:18
Misused and abused Bible verses- part 3- Proverbs 22:28
Misused and abused Bible verses- part 4- II Chronicles 7:14
Misused and abused Bible verses- part 5- I Thessalonians 5:22
Misused and abused Bible verses- part 6- I John 1:9
Misused and abused Bible verses- part 7- Deuteronomy 22:5
Misused and abused Bible verses- part 8- I Timothy 6:10
Misused and abused Bible verses- part 9- I Corinthians 11:14
Posted in Biblical Commentary, Christian Living, Misused Bible Verses