bible verses about the cross

Bible Verses About the Cross: 12 Scriptures

Bible verses about the cross: 12 Scriptures on Christ's finished work, boasting only in the cross, and peace through his blood.

Illustrated portrait of Christopher McAllister

By Christopher McAllister

Founder of theBibleand.Love

Published September 29, 2026Updated October 22, 20266 min read1 Corinthians 1:18 (NIV)

A simple wooden cross stands far off on a quiet hill at dawn, with wildflowers in the foreground.

"For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God."

— 1 Corinthians 1:18 (NIV)

People who search bible verses about the cross want Scripture for Good Friday, for guilt that will not quiet, or for a faith that centers on Jesus's death — not on vague inspiration. This page is a numbered list of twelve passages with the NIV text and a short note on each. The wider essay sits under Love and the cross. Related lists: Bible verses about the Holy Spirit, Bible verses about the church, Bible verses about sacrifice, Bible verses about redemption, Bible verses about salvation, and Bible verses about God's love. Here the focus is the cross itself — the wood, the message, and Christ's finished work — distinct from the broader sacrifice theme (Bible verses about sacrifice) and from redemption's purchase language (Bible verses about redemption). The bronze serpent Moses lifted, which Jesus names in John 3:14, is listed in Bible verses about the bronze serpent. Scripture on the Passover lamb and the Lamb's blood is in Bible verses about the blood of the Lamb.

Word study (lead theme). In Greek, "cross" is σταυρός stauros (Strong's G4716) — an upright stake or cross, the instrument of Roman execution and, in the New Testament, the place of Christ's atoning death. See also Bible Hub G4716. Related: σταυρόω stauroō (Strong's G4717; Bible Hub G4717) — to crucify.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 1 Corinthians 1 names the paradox: "The preaching of Christ crucified… is to them that perish foolishness… but to them who are saved it is the power of God" (Bible Hub commentaries on 1 Corinthians 1:18; fuller MHC at Bible Hub MHC 1 Corinthians 1). On Galatians 6 he presses boasting only there: "The apostle's glorying was… in the cross of Christ" (Bible Hub commentaries on Galatians 6:14; Bible Hub MHC Galatians 6).

12 Bible verses about the cross

  1. 1 Corinthians 1:18. "For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God." The cross divides hearers — folly or power — and salvation hears power. See Love and the cross.

  2. Galatians 6:14. "May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world." Paul's résumé ends at a cross; the world's claim on him dies there too.

  3. Colossians 2:13-14. "…He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross." Charges that condemned are nailed — canceled, not ignored. See Bible verses about forgiveness.

  4. Hebrews 12:2. "…fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." The cross was endured for joy ahead — shame scorned, throne reached. See Bible verses about faith.

  5. 1 Corinthians 2:2. "For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified." Paul's focus in a clever city was a crucified Christ — not a cleverer speech.

  6. Isaiah 53:5. "But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed." The Servant is pierced for us — peace and healing arrive through wounds. See Bible verses about peace and Bible verses about healing. The reference page is Isaiah 53:5.

  7. 1 Peter 2:24. "He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed." Sin is borne in a body on wood so we can die to sin and live for righteousness.

  8. Colossians 1:20. "and through him to reconcile to himself all things… by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross." Peace with God is blood-bought at the cross — reconciliation's price. See Bible verses about peace.

  9. John 19:30. "When he had received the drink, Jesus said, 'It is finished.' With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit." Finished is a victory word — the work completed, not abandoned. See Love and the cross.

  10. John 12:32-33. "And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself. He said this to show the kind of death he was going to die." Lifted up means the cross — and drawing people is its aim.

  11. Luke 23:34. "Jesus said, 'Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.'…" From the cross itself comes a prayer for forgiveness. See Bible verses about forgiveness and Bible verses about mercy.

  12. Romans 6:6. "For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin…" The cross is not only past history; believers are united to it — old self crucified. See Bible verses about holiness and Love and the cross.

How to use these verses

Pick one verse for Good Friday, for a confession that needs finished work, or for a week when clever talk has drowned the gospel — not twelve. If you need the cross as power, start with 1 Corinthians 1:18. If you need canceled charges, start with Colossians 2:13-14. If you need "It is finished," start with John 19:30. For the fuller essay, read Love and the cross. For the Spirit who applies Christ's work, see Bible verses about the Holy Spirit. For the people bought by that blood, see Bible verses about the church. For the table that proclaims that death, see Bible verses about communion. For a daily verse, open Bible verse of the day.

Questions people ask

What is a good Bible verse about the cross?

1 Corinthians 1:18 (the message of the cross as God's power), Galatians 6:14 (boast only in the cross), and John 19:30 ("It is finished") are clear starting places.

What does the cross mean in the Bible?

The cross (stauros, G4716) is where Jesus bore sins, canceled condemning charges, made peace by his blood, and finished the saving work — foolish to some, power to those being saved.

How is the cross different from sacrifice or redemption?

Sacrifice language covers living offerings and Christ's self-gift (Bible verses about sacrifice). Redemption stresses purchase and freedom (Bible verses about redemption). This page stays on the cross itself — the place, the message, and Christ's finished death.

Why do Christians glory in the cross?

Because Paul would boast in nothing else (Galatians 6:14), because the message saves (1 Corinthians 1:18), and because love was demonstrated when Christ died for sinners — see Love and the cross and Bible verses about God's love.

Start with Love and the cross, then Bible verses about sacrifice, Bible verses about redemption, and Bible verses about salvation. For the atoning blood (haima) poured out there, distinct from the cross event alone, see Bible verses about the blood of Jesus. For a daily verse, open Bible verse of the day.

Sources

A distant wooden cross on a dawn hill, with wildflowers in the foreground.

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