1 corinthians 1:21 - For seeing that in the wisdom of God, the world through its wisdom didn’t know God, it was God’s good pleasure through the foolishness of the preaching to save those who believe.
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What does "1 corinthians 1:21" mean?
This verse, 1 Corinthians 1:21, is a key passage in understanding Paul's perspective on the Gospel and how it relates to human wisdom. Let's break it down phrase by phrase:
"For seeing that in the wisdom of God...": This establishes the context. God, in His infinite wisdom, designed the world and the means by which people could know Him. This implies that God deliberately set up a system.
"...the world through its wisdom didn’t know God...": This is the problem. Despite having access to the created world (nature, reason, philosophy), which should point to a Creator, humanity, through its own "wisdom" (philosophy, intellectual pursuits, systems of thought), failed to truly know God. Paul is likely referring to the philosophies and religions prevalent in the Greek world at the time, which were complex and often focused on abstract ideas rather than a personal relationship with God. They relied on human reasoning and speculation.
"...it was God’s good pleasure...": This highlights God's sovereign choice. He chose a different approach. "Good pleasure" suggests it was God's gracious and benevolent will to act.
"...through the foolishness of the preaching...": This is the surprising solution. The "preaching" refers to the Gospel message, specifically the message of Jesus Christ crucified. To the world's wisdom (the Greek philosophy), the idea of a crucified Messiah, a savior who suffers and dies, was considered weak, scandalous, and "foolish." Paul means that the method of spreading the Gospel, preaching the good news of Jesus’s life, death, and resurrection, appears illogical from a human standpoint.
"...to save those who believe.": This is the purpose. The "foolishness of preaching," despite its seeming absurdity, is actually the instrument God uses to bring salvation to those who put their faith in Christ. Salvation is received through belief, not through intellectual understanding or philosophical achievement.
In Summary:
The verse essentially argues that:
1. Human wisdom failed to lead people to God. The intellectual and philosophical pursuits of the world, though seemingly wise, were ultimately insufficient to reveal the true God.
2. God deliberately chose a seemingly foolish method – the preaching of the Gospel (specifically the cross of Christ) – as the means of salvation. This method focuses on faith in Jesus Christ, rather than human understanding.
3. This seemingly "foolish" method is actually the power of God to save those who believe. God uses the unexpected and the humble to achieve His purposes.
Implications:
Humility of Faith: The verse challenges the idea that intellectual prowess or worldly wisdom are prerequisites for knowing God. It emphasizes the importance of humility and faith.
The Offense of the Cross: The cross of Christ is inherently offensive to human pride and systems of thought that emphasize self-reliance.
God's Sovereignty: It underscores God's sovereign right to choose how He reveals Himself and offers salvation.
The Power of the Gospel: The Gospel, though seemingly simple, has the power to transform lives and bring people into a relationship with God.
Paul is contrasting the Greek worldview with the Christian worldview. Greeks valued wisdom, knowledge, and rhetoric. Paul is saying, in effect, "Your wisdom couldn't find God. Instead, God uses something that looks foolish to the world, the preaching of the crucified Christ, to save those who believe." It is God's wisdom (which is beyond human comprehension) versus human wisdom.
1 corinthians 1:21 - For seeing that in the wisdom of God, the world through its wisdom didn’t know God, it was God’s good pleasure through the foolishness of the preaching to save those who believe.
What does "1 corinthians 1:21" mean?
This verse, 1 Corinthians 1:21, is a key passage in understanding Paul's perspective on the Gospel and how it relates to human wisdom. Let's break it down phrase by phrase:
"For seeing that in the wisdom of God...": This establishes the context. God, in His infinite wisdom, designed the world and the means by which people could know Him. This implies that God deliberately set up a system.
"...the world through its wisdom didn’t know God...": This is the problem. Despite having access to the created world (nature, reason, philosophy), which should point to a Creator, humanity, through its own "wisdom" (philosophy, intellectual pursuits, systems of thought), failed to truly know God. Paul is likely referring to the philosophies and religions prevalent in the Greek world at the time, which were complex and often focused on abstract ideas rather than a personal relationship with God. They relied on human reasoning and speculation.
"...it was God’s good pleasure...": This highlights God's sovereign choice. He chose a different approach. "Good pleasure" suggests it was God's gracious and benevolent will to act.
"...through the foolishness of the preaching...": This is the surprising solution. The "preaching" refers to the Gospel message, specifically the message of Jesus Christ crucified. To the world's wisdom (the Greek philosophy), the idea of a crucified Messiah, a savior who suffers and dies, was considered weak, scandalous, and "foolish." Paul means that the method of spreading the Gospel, preaching the good news of Jesus’s life, death, and resurrection, appears illogical from a human standpoint.
"...to save those who believe.": This is the purpose. The "foolishness of preaching," despite its seeming absurdity, is actually the instrument God uses to bring salvation to those who put their faith in Christ. Salvation is received through belief, not through intellectual understanding or philosophical achievement.
In Summary:
The verse essentially argues that:
1. Human wisdom failed to lead people to God. The intellectual and philosophical pursuits of the world, though seemingly wise, were ultimately insufficient to reveal the true God.
2. God deliberately chose a seemingly foolish method – the preaching of the Gospel (specifically the cross of Christ) – as the means of salvation. This method focuses on faith in Jesus Christ, rather than human understanding.
3. This seemingly "foolish" method is actually the power of God to save those who believe. God uses the unexpected and the humble to achieve His purposes.
Implications:
Humility of Faith: The verse challenges the idea that intellectual prowess or worldly wisdom are prerequisites for knowing God. It emphasizes the importance of humility and faith.
The Offense of the Cross: The cross of Christ is inherently offensive to human pride and systems of thought that emphasize self-reliance.
God's Sovereignty: It underscores God's sovereign right to choose how He reveals Himself and offers salvation.
The Power of the Gospel: The Gospel, though seemingly simple, has the power to transform lives and bring people into a relationship with God.
Paul is contrasting the Greek worldview with the Christian worldview. Greeks valued wisdom, knowledge, and rhetoric. Paul is saying, in effect, "Your wisdom couldn't find God. Instead, God uses something that looks foolish to the world, the preaching of the crucified Christ, to save those who believe." It is God's wisdom (which is beyond human comprehension) versus human wisdom.