1 Corinthians 1:22-25

1 Corinthians 1:22-25 open out the thought of 1 Corinthians 1:21 : “the world” is parted into “Jews” and “Greeks”; μωρία becomes σκάνδαλον and μωρία; the κήρυγμα is defined as that of Χριστὸς ἐσταυρωμένος; and the πιστεύοντες reappear as the κλητοί. Both Mr [229] and Al [230] make this a new sentence, detached from 1 Corinthians 1:20 f., and complete in itself, with ἐπειδὴ καί κ. τ. λ. for protasis, and ἡμεῖς δέ κ. τ. λ. for apodosis, as though the mistaken aims of the world supplied Paul's motive for preaching Christ; the point is rather (in accordance with 20) that his “foolish” message, in contrast with (δέ, 1 Corinthians 1:23) the desiderated “signs” and “wisdom,” convicts the world of folly (1 Corinthians 1:20); thus the whole of 1 Corinthians 1:22-24 falls under the regimen of the 2nd ἐπειδή, which with its καί, emphatically resumes the first ἐπειδή (1 Corinthians 1:21) “since indeed”. God turned the world's wise men into fools (1 Corinthians 1:20) by bestowing salvation through faith on a ground that they deem folly (1 Corinthians 1:21) in other words, by revealing His power and wisdom in the person of a crucified Messiah, whom Jews and Greeks unite to despise (1 Corinthians 1:22-24).

[229] Meyer's Critical and Exegetical Commentary (Eng. Trans.).

[230] Alford's Greek Testament.