Scandals are commonplace these days. By scandal we refer to something immoral and shocking which offends us—it is the word which Paul uses to refer to Jesus’ death. In the west, where for thousand of years the cross has served as an accepted and even revered symbol, it’s hard to imagine it being an offense, but its offense is not confined to one age or culture. The cross shouts out loud than we can’t save ourselves—either through our power or wisdom. This is what Paul begins to develop in this section of his letter to the Corinthians.