1 Corinthians 1 · Verse 22

1 Corinthians 1:22

For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:
1 Corinthians 1:22, King James Version

1 Corinthians 1:22 in other translations

BSBJews demand signs and Greeks search for wisdom,
WEBFor Jews ask for signs, Greeks seek after wisdom,
ASVSeeing that Jews ask for signs, and Greeks seek after wisdom:
YLTSince also Jews ask a sign, and Greeks seek wisdom,
DARBYSince Jews indeed ask for signs, and Greeks seek wisdom;
BBESeeing that the Jews make request for signs, and the Greeks are looking for knowledge:
WebsterFor the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek wisdom:

What does 1 Corinthians 1:22 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
22. For--literally, "Since," seeing that. This verse illustrates how the "preaching" of Christ crucified came to be deemed "foolishness" (1Co 1:21). a sign--The oldest manuscripts read "signs." The singular was a later correction from Mt 12:38; 16:1; Joh 2:18. The signs the Jews craved for were not mere miracles, but direct tokens from heaven that Jesus was Messiah (Lu 11:16). Greeks seek ... wisdom--namely, a philosophic demonstration of Christianity. Whereas Christ, instead of demonstrative proof, demands faith on the ground of His word, and of a reasonable amount of evidence that the alleged revelation is His word. Christianity begins not with solving intellectual difficulties, but with satisfying the heart that longs for forgiveness. Hence not the refined Greeks, but the theocratic Jews were the chosen organ for propagating revelation. Again, intellectual Athens (Ac 17:18-21, &c.) received the Gospel less readily than commercial Corinth.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 22. For the Jews require a sign. A miracle, a prodigy, an evidence of Divine interposition' This was the characteristic of the Jewish people. God had manifested himself to them by miracles and wonders in a remarkable manner in past times, and they greatly prided themselves on that fact, and always demanded it when any new messenger came to them, professing to be sent from God. This propensity they often evinced in their intercourse with the Lord Jesus, Mt 12:38, 16:1; Mk 8:11, Lk 11:16, 12:54-56. Many MSS., instead of "sign" here in the singular, read signs in the plural; and Griesbach has introduced that reading into the text. The sense is nearly the same, and it means that it was a characteristic of the Jews to demand the constant exhibition of miracles and wonders; and it is also implied here, I think, by the reasoning of the apostle, that they believed that the communication of such signs to them as a people, would secure their salvation, and they therefore despised the simple preaching of a crucified Messiah. They expected a Messiah that should come with the exhibition of some stupendous signs and wonders from heaven, Mt 12:38, etc., as above; they looked for the displays of amazing power in his coming, and they anticipated that he would deliver them from their enemies by mere power; and they, therefore, were greatly offended 1Cor 1:23 by the simple doctrine of a crucified Messiah.

And the Greeks, etc. Perhaps this means the heathen in general, in opposition to the Jews. Rom 1:16. It was, however, peculiarly the characteristic of the Greek philosophers. They seek for schemes of philosophy and religion that shall depend on human wisdom, and they therefore despise the gospel.

(b) Mt 12:38

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 22 For the Jews require a sign - Instead of σημειον, a sign, ABCDEFG, several others, both the Syriac, Coptic, Vulgate, and Itala, with many of the fathers, have σημεια, signs; which reading, as undoubtedly genuine, Griesbach has admitted into the text. There never was a people in the universe more difficult to be persuaded of the truth than the Jews: and had not their religion been incontestably proved by the most striking and indubitable miracles, they never would have received it. This slowness of heart to believe, added to their fear of being deceived, induced them to require miracles to attest every thing that professed to come from God. They were a wicked and adulterous generation, continually seeking signs, and never saying, It is enough. But the sign which seems particularly referred to here is the assumption of secular power, which they expected in the Messiah; and because this sign did not appear in Christ, therefore they rejected him. And the Greeks seek after wisdom - Such wisdom, or philosophy, as they found in the writings of Cicero, Seneca, Plato, etc., which was called philosophy, and which came recommended to them in all the beauties and graces of the Latin and Greek languages.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 1 Corinthians 1:17-25

Paul had been bred up in Jewish learning; but the plain preaching of a crucified Jesus, was more powerful than all the oratory and philosophy of the heathen world. This is the sum and substance of the gospel. Christ crucified is the foundation of all our hopes, the fountain of all our joys. And by his death we live. The preaching of salvation for lost sinners by the sufferings and death of the Son of God, if…

Read the full comment on 1 Corinthians 1:17-25 →

1 Corinthians 1:22 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ἐπειδὴepeidēSeeing thatG1894
καὶkaibothG2532
ἸουδαῖοιIoudaioiJewsG2453
σημεῖαsēmeiasignsG4592
αἰτοῦσινaitousinask forG154
καὶkaiandG2532
ἝλληνεςHellēnesGreeksG1672
σοφίανsophianwisdomG4678
ζητοῦσιν,zētousinseek,G2212

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for 1 Corinthians 1:22

  • Matthew 16:1-4

    The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came, and tempting desired him that he would shew them a sign from heaven. He answered and said unto them, When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather: for the sky is red. And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowring. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times? A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas. And he left them, and departed.

  • Matthew 12:38-39

    Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee. But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas:

  • John 2:18

    Then answered the Jews and said unto him, What sign shewest thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things?

  • Acts 17:18-21

    Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoicks, encountered him. And some said, What will this babbler say? other some, He seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods: because he preached unto them Jesus, and the resurrection. And they took him, and brought him unto Areopagus, saying, May we know what this new doctrine, whereof thou speakest, is? For thou bringest certain strange things to our ears: we would know therefore what these things mean. (For all the Athenians and strangers which were there spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell, or to hear some new thing.)

  • Mark 8:11

    And the Pharisees came forth, and began to question with him, seeking of him a sign from heaven, tempting him.

  • Luke 11:16

    And others, tempting him, sought of him a sign from heaven.

  • Luke 11:20

    But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you.

  • John 4:28

    The woman then left her waterpot, and went her way into the city, and saith to the men,

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
the Jews.
Mt 12:38,39; 16:1-4; Mr 8:11; Lu 11:16,20; Joh 2:18; 4:28
the Greeks.
Ac 17:18-21

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • 1 Corinthians 1:21

    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.

  • 1 Corinthians 1:22

    For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:

  • 1 Corinthians 1:23

    But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;

Read all of 1 Corinthians 1

1 Corinthians 1:22 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Porque los Judíos piden señales, y los Griegos buscan sabiduría:
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		puisque les Juifs demandent des miracles et que les Grecs recherchent la sagesse;
German
Elberfelder 1871		sintemal ja sowohl Juden Zeichen fordern, als auch Griechen Weisheit suchen;
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Quoniam et Judæi signa petunt, et Græci sapientiam quærunt: