and, "A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense." For they stumble at the word, being disobedient, whereunto also they were appointed.
"In the immediate context it is not so much a question of how Christian believers perceive Christ as of how God (in contrast to ’people generally’) perceives him, and of how God consequently vindicates both Christ and his followers." [Note: Michaels, p. 104.] 