In what way is the preaching of the cross a stumbling block or foolishness?

To the Jews a stumbling block because they rejected their own messiah and sent Him to the cruelest death possible. So to hear the cross preached is like salt in a wound.

To the Greeks foolishness because the greeks were always looking for knowledge, and had to be able to "logic" everything out. God is unexplainable for them so they just call it foolishness to avoid admitting that there are some things THEY cannot understand.

The Atheists are the greeks of today.

In the Greek, this word 'stumbling' relates to the word scandal, and

I am currently writing to an antichrist, real hater of Jesus Christ for

whom everything to do with Jesus is a scandal, so then the cross

would be terrible because it would mean they sinned, and since

they don't seem to practice the sacrificial system any more,

they don't even have sin any more, or if so, don't know what

they do with it. The Greeks are way too intelligent for such

things as the crucifixion. They want to argue, debate, and

basically have pleasure in conversation. There is no pleasure

in 'the cross'. It would be foolishness because they also

would see no need for such a thing as sins. All they do

is say 'sorry' and that is that. So, in professing themselves

to be wise, they became as fools.

Preaching of the cross was not something accepted by the Jews. They rejected Jesus, they didn't believe he was Gods Son.They couldn't get past their disbelief, it blocked them.

As far as foolishness, the preaching about all that happened and what was done on our behalf, meant (((nothing))) to the Greeks, these people just knew that Jesus was crucified as a criminal. And the whole thing was nonsense, a story, untrue, foolish. Sorta how the atheist today feel about the bible and about God.

If people reject Jesus, they will never get past their disbelief. And for those who Don't even believe in God or the bible, its foolishness to them.

Here's a couple of bible translations of this scripture, there is a web site that has many bible translations to read. all you have to do is type in a few words of the scripture you seek, and it pops up, then click on it and it gives the reading by multiple translations.http://bible.cc/1_corinthians/1-23.htm

The Jews are offended (stumbled) and the Gentiles say its all nonsense(foolishness). This I found from a parallel translation (New Living translation)

Another translation reads :

This offends Jewish people and makes no sense to people who are not Jewish. (Gods World translation)

But we give the good news of Christ on the cross, a hard thing to the Jews, and a foolish thing to the Gentiles; (Bible in basic English)

Great question Carl. : )

ps.@voice in the wilderness

...thank you for making me laugh. "names were changed to protect the innocent". they don't know who they are though ; )

A Greek is someone like a modern day westerner. The fact that Jesus died for our sins is utter foolishness to the greek mind. It is the stupidest thing imaginable. The bible is just pointing out that all this talk from Atheists that Christans are morons and blah, blah, blah is to be expected and we shouldn't be surprised or alarmed by it.

To the Jew it is a stumbling block because God set it before them as as stumbling block. He knew they wouldn't believe because in his own words "they are stubborn stiff necked people".

1 Cor 1:25 The foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

"1 Corinthians 1:23 But we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block, and to the Greeks foolishness;"

Its a mystery see what I put on Carl's other Q it pertains to the same Mystery!!!!!! Email me if you like

(((clue))) they were never to give up being Jews, but just take on Christ (Messiah)

And the Greeks needed christ and need if I may what the Jews (salvation) (as even second coming?)

You be the Judge

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=201109...

.

The Jews loved their laws. It made them worthy. It made them better. When Christ came with the gospel of grace they could not handle it. It meant all their "works" were for nothing. The parable of the prodigal, the father and the elder son is a perfect example. The elder son could not accept the grace his father showed to his brother and he felt he had been slighted to the max.

The Greeks were in love with knowledge and wisdom. Unfortunately it was worldly knowledge. They were forever learning but never arrived at truth. God said his foolishness was wiser than anything they could come up with.

To the Jews it is a stumbling block because they are blinded by the law, and refuse to receive the grace of God that comes through Jesus. To the Gentiles, the word of God is foolishness because they believe they are wiser than God, and have no need of His word. Many Gentiles put science before God, and accept that as truth instead of God's word. Romans 10:8-10 is how anyone can be born again.

They stumble over the name of Christ spiritually speaking because they have the OT misinterpreted in order to leave Christ out of the prophecies. It's foolishness in the minds of Atheists who refuse to love God and search for truth. Just in their minds and this blocks them from getting saved.

A stumbling block to Jews because for Jews, God is one, unchanging and by definition would never have "children".

Nonsense for Gentiles because it doesn't make any sense. God dies in order to make up with himself for an offense he invented in the first place, but the benefits only apply to those willing to believe the whole crazy story. Nonsense!

To the Jews who were stuck in the old way and could not change to the new, it was a stubmbling block to the path of God

To the greek who thought they knew everything, (much like our Atheistic buddies) they couldn't see past thier nose to see the truth and they dismissed it as foolishness