1 corinthians 3:20 - And again, “The Lord knows the reasoning of the wise, that it is worthless.” Psalm 94:11
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What does "1 corinthians 3:20" mean?
The verse you're quoting, 1 Corinthians 3:20, cites Psalm 94:11. To understand its meaning in 1 Corinthians, we need to consider both its original context in the Psalm and how Paul uses it in his letter.
Original Context in Psalm 94:11:
The Psalmist's Concern: Psalm 94 is a lament and a plea for God's justice. The psalmist is troubled by the prosperity of the wicked and their seeming disregard for God. They oppress the righteous and act as if God doesn't see or know what they are doing.
"The Reasoning of the Wise" in Psalm 94: In this context, "the reasoning of the wise" likely refers to the scheming, self-serving calculations of the wicked. It's not about wisdom in a positive, godly sense. Instead, it points to the clever, but ultimately flawed and short-sighted, plans of those who disregard God's law. They think they can get away with their evil deeds through their cunning.
"Worthless": God sees through these plans. He knows they are ultimately ineffective and will not succeed in escaping his justice. Their "wisdom" is ultimately foolishness in the face of God's omniscience and power.
Context in 1 Corinthians 3:20:
Paul's Argument: Paul is addressing divisions and pride in the Corinthian church. Some were aligning themselves with particular leaders (Paul, Apollos, Cephas) and boasting about their superior understanding or wisdom.
Human Wisdom vs. God's Wisdom: Paul argues that true wisdom comes from God, not from human intellect or worldly knowledge. He emphasizes that what the world considers wise is often foolish in God's eyes.
Connecting to Psalm 94:11: By quoting Psalm 94:11, Paul is saying that the "reasoning" and "wisdom" that the Corinthians are so proud of, the intellectual arguments and philosophies that are causing division, are ultimately "worthless" in the grand scheme of God's plan. They don't contribute to building up the church or understanding God's truth.
In Summary:
1 Corinthians 3:20, quoting Psalm 94:11, means that:
Human cleverness, especially when used to promote self-interest or division, is of no value in God's eyes. It's "worthless" because it's not aligned with God's will and doesn't lead to true understanding or spiritual growth.
The Corinthians should not be putting their faith in human wisdom or intellectual superiority, but rather in God's wisdom as revealed through the Gospel. Their focus should be on unity, humility, and serving one another in love, not on boasting about their supposed intelligence.
God sees through the schemes and calculations of those who disregard him. Their "wisdom" is ultimately foolishness because it's based on a flawed understanding of reality and a rejection of God's authority.
Paul is challenging the Corinthians to re-evaluate their priorities and seek true wisdom, which comes from God, not from human intellect alone. He is warning them against the dangers of pride and division, which are fueled by a misplaced confidence in human understanding.
1 corinthians 3:20 - And again, “The Lord knows the reasoning of the wise, that it is worthless.” Psalm 94:11
What does "1 corinthians 3:20" mean?
The verse you're quoting, 1 Corinthians 3:20, cites Psalm 94:11. To understand its meaning in 1 Corinthians, we need to consider both its original context in the Psalm and how Paul uses it in his letter.
Original Context in Psalm 94:11:
The Psalmist's Concern: Psalm 94 is a lament and a plea for God's justice. The psalmist is troubled by the prosperity of the wicked and their seeming disregard for God. They oppress the righteous and act as if God doesn't see or know what they are doing.
"The Reasoning of the Wise" in Psalm 94: In this context, "the reasoning of the wise" likely refers to the scheming, self-serving calculations of the wicked. It's not about wisdom in a positive, godly sense. Instead, it points to the clever, but ultimately flawed and short-sighted, plans of those who disregard God's law. They think they can get away with their evil deeds through their cunning.
"Worthless": God sees through these plans. He knows they are ultimately ineffective and will not succeed in escaping his justice. Their "wisdom" is ultimately foolishness in the face of God's omniscience and power.
Context in 1 Corinthians 3:20:
Paul's Argument: Paul is addressing divisions and pride in the Corinthian church. Some were aligning themselves with particular leaders (Paul, Apollos, Cephas) and boasting about their superior understanding or wisdom.
Human Wisdom vs. God's Wisdom: Paul argues that true wisdom comes from God, not from human intellect or worldly knowledge. He emphasizes that what the world considers wise is often foolish in God's eyes.
Connecting to Psalm 94:11: By quoting Psalm 94:11, Paul is saying that the "reasoning" and "wisdom" that the Corinthians are so proud of, the intellectual arguments and philosophies that are causing division, are ultimately "worthless" in the grand scheme of God's plan. They don't contribute to building up the church or understanding God's truth.
In Summary:
1 Corinthians 3:20, quoting Psalm 94:11, means that:
Human cleverness, especially when used to promote self-interest or division, is of no value in God's eyes. It's "worthless" because it's not aligned with God's will and doesn't lead to true understanding or spiritual growth.
The Corinthians should not be putting their faith in human wisdom or intellectual superiority, but rather in God's wisdom as revealed through the Gospel. Their focus should be on unity, humility, and serving one another in love, not on boasting about their supposed intelligence.
God sees through the schemes and calculations of those who disregard him. Their "wisdom" is ultimately foolishness because it's based on a flawed understanding of reality and a rejection of God's authority.
Paul is challenging the Corinthians to re-evaluate their priorities and seek true wisdom, which comes from God, not from human intellect alone. He is warning them against the dangers of pride and division, which are fueled by a misplaced confidence in human understanding.