1st Corinthians 1:24
For indeed Jews ask for signs and Greeks search for wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness, but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
Question: Is the calling a special, unique call, distinguished from the general preaching of Christ crucified in verse 23?
Answer: “The called” seems to reference Christians, similar to Romans 1:16. Sometimes the best way to demonstrate the meaning of a term is to use parallel passages, and the following color-coded verses intends to demonstrate the meaning of “the called.”
1st Corinthians 1:18-31: “For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written, ‘I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the cleverness of the clever I will set aside.’ Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 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. For indeed Jews ask for signs and Greeks search for wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness, but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are so that no man may boast before God. But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, so that, just as it is written, ‘Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord.’”
Romans 1:16: “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.”
Romans 8:28: “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” [KJV]
“The called” and “everyone who believes” are expressions used to denote Christians. In other words, to the world, something like John 3:16, and Jesus dying on the cross for our sins, is just foolishness, but to us Christians, that is, to us who believe, it is the power of God to save us from Hell.
Laurence Vance comments: “The ‘them which are called’ are so designated because they answered the call.” (The Other Side of Calvinism, p.496)
Review Chart1st Corinthians 1:18: the word of the cross
1st Corinthians 1:21: the message
1st Corinthians 1:24: Christ crucified
Romans 1:16: the gospel
the gospel1st Corinthians 1:18: power of God
1st Corinthians 1:21: save
1st Corinthians 1:24: power of God and the wisdom of God
Romans 1:16: power of God for salvation
power of God for salvationRomans 8:28: all things work together for good
all things work together for good1st Corinthians 1:18: us who are being saved
1st Corinthians 1:21: those who believe
1st Corinthians 1:24: those who are the called
Romans 1:16: everyone who believes
everyone who believesRomans 8:28: them that love God, them who are the called according to His purpose
them that love God, them who are the called according to His purpose So “the called” seems to identify Christian believers.
