The Gospel - Folly to the Foolish and Wisdom to the Wise

1 Cor. 1:18  "For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 
1 Cor. 1:19  For it is written, 'I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.' 
1 Cor. 1:20  Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 
1 Cor. 1:21  For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. 
1 Cor. 1:22  For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, 
1 Cor. 1:23  but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, 
1 Cor. 1:24  but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God."

1 Cor. 1:18  "For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God."

The "word of the cross" is referring to the Gospel message of Christ dying on the cross and being raised again on the third day. If you don't believe something is true, then chances are you believe that it is a foolish idea, or thought, or statement. Paul is saying that if you are not saved, you don't believe the Gospel is true, and therefore believe it's foolish. However, if you are saved, you believe the Gospel, and you know that it is truth, and that it is where the power of God is shown. In the power of His grace and the power of our salvation, both in action (the paying the price), and in the saving of us (the beginning of our salvation).

1 Cor. 1:19  "For it is written, 'I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.'"  (Found in Isaiah 29:14)

Using the KJV will help to clear up what this verse is saying.
(KJV)  For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. 
Paul's point is that anybody who thinks himself wise and has any faith in his own knowledge and understanding will be humbled and learn that it has no eternal value. When we die, all that will matter is our knowledge of and faith in Christ. When the earth gets destroyed, all its history, all the sciences, all medicine, all philosophy, all language will be useless to us due to it's imperfection.  When we get to heaven, it will all become unnecessary to remember the history we were taught, we will not need to know about science (at least science of today, we may still learn how God made things to work perfectly, but not man's pathetic shot at understanding it), medicine will be obsolete, philosophy will become false, and we won't need to worry about spelling or grammar. What you are taught in school will not gain you salvation, so in mind of eternity, it won't matter. Not to mention, most of our philosophy, history, science, and language, is full of misinformation, and/or human convention which will all be destroyed.

1 Cor. 1:20-21  "Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe."

I believe the reference to the "wise" is relating to the philosophers of the time in the Gentile world, the scribes would be the Jewish version of this, being the people who are "wise" within the Jewish culture, and the debater which would be the person who thinks they can confound people by their brilliance. Then, Paul goes on to say that God has made the wisdom of people into nothing, he has destroyed it, and it is worthless. His point is this: "See all these people whom you deem smart? Whom you think are brilliant? Well, they say nothing wise; it is all foolishness." The wisdom of God is the reason that world can not know God through wisdom. I know that's maybe difficult to understand, so let me try to re-phrase it. Not allowing men to find God through wisdom is what God deemed wise. Why did God decide that the only way to Him was through Christ and His death and not through worldly wisdom? Because if God allowed men to find Him through their own wisdom it would create pride in the fact that they found God, and others with less wit didn't.  I leave folly in quotation marks because it isn't folly, it is wisdom. But yet, to those who do not believe, (as it says in verse 18 "For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing") it is foolish; if it wasn't foolish to them, they would believe because who would pick folly over wisdom?

1 Cor. 1:22  "For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom,"

The Jews look for God in the signs, and the Greeks look for God through earthly wisdom. But neither will find Him. Because they only way to find God is through faith in the "folly" of Christ's death and resurrection.

1 Cor. 1:23  "but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles,"

The proper translation would be "an offence to the Jews" The reason being that they expected a physical king, one who would save them from the world at large. What they didn't realize is that He came to save them from the carnality of the world and not from the rulers of the world. The reason that is is folly to the Gentiles, is that it goes against everything they know. Some guy, in Judea died and then His followers claim He rose again. Why would this make sense? Sacrifice does not make sense, and they hadn't ever seen anybody rise from the dead before. That is foolishness to the "rational" humanistic mind; why should we do something to better others if it hurts ourselves?

1 Cor. 1:24  "but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God."

The word "called":
"κλητός
klētos
klay-tos'
invited, that is, appointed, or (specifically) a saint: - called."
Basically, those who are saved: the believers in Christ. This is just a reiteration of what Paul says back in verse 18: "But to us who are being saved it is the power of God." We are saved by Christ, and even though it doesn't make sense from a humanistic-logical-sinful standpoint, it makes sense from God's viewpoint and believers see it as perfect wisdom on God's part.


The whole purpose of this passage is to reaffirm that Christ is true wisdom to the believer. And although those of this age may think they are smart and have wisdom but it will all perish, as will they. It says the Jews wanted signs, yet because of the lack of signs and the lack of Christ doing what they expected, He was a stumbling block and offensive to the Jews. To the Gentiles, it didn't make sense. Why would they care about some guy who died in a different culture? Yet, it is wisdom to us believers who think not with the foolish Gentile mind, nor with the tainted mind of the Jew. Instead, we think with the mind of the Holy Spirit Who was given to us by God to explain His mysteries and to guide us through our lives. 

Division, Unity, and Christ

1 Cor. 1:10  "I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment. 
1 Cor. 1:11  For it has been reported to me by Chloe's people that there is quarreling among you, my brothers. 
1 Cor. 1:12  What I mean is that each one of you says, 'I follow Paul,' or 'I follow Apollos,' or 'I follow Cephas,' or 'I follow Christ.' 
1 Cor. 1:13  Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? 
1 Cor. 1:14  I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, 
1 Cor. 1:15  so that no one may say that you were baptized in my name. 
1 Cor. 1:16  (I did baptize also the household of Stephanas. Beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized anyone else.) 
1 Cor. 1:17  For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power."

Divisions within the church disrupt both the growth of the people and the growth of the kingdom of God. Does this mean there is nothing we should disagree on? Yes, it does. Does this mean, however, that we won't disagree on anything? I don't think so...


1 Cor. 1:10  "I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment." (ESV)

1 Cor. 1:10  "Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment." (KJV)

I think that the KJV translates this verse better than the ESV because of the difference of words "agree" and "speak." The difference is that is is impossible for people to agree on everything unless they are all perfect and of one mind with God. Now, "speaking the same thing" means that men can say the same things, even if they do not believe all of the same specifics. Let me explain - all believers should agree on the basics of the faith - we are sinners, Christ died for our sins, only through Christ can we be saved, it's through faith, and not works that we are saved, etc. These are the things that we should be speaking about in public, the Gospel message, and the basics of the faith. Things we disagree on, should not be debated in public, because it puts a face of disunity on Christianity. When we do disagree on things that are not of such importance, instead of assuming that the other person is wrong  and condemning them as not being saved. We should remember that we aren't perfect, so there is a possibility that they are right. The first reason you shouldn't condemn them is you might be wrong. The second reason is that you are not God, you can't judge their hearts, neither can you know if they are saved or not. Now, this isn't saying you can't discuss your differences, but don't be broadcasting that they are not saved, or they are 100% wrong. How do you know which one is wrong and which one is right? You have your opinion, you are convinced in your own mind which is what matters because of what it says in Romans 14:23b, "For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin." and in Romans 14:5, "One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind."  These include any of your beliefs, and anybody else's beliefs.  The latter verse is talking about the Sabbath. Some believe that there is no difference between the Sabbath and any other day; others believe there is. This is one issue believers disagree on once in a while. What matters is that you are convinced, not if you esteem Sundays ahead of the other days or not. Unity in one mind and with the same judgement is again referring to the fact that we are all under Christ, the Holy Spirit should be our mind and our judgment on all things of life. We are not to be the same person, but we are to be under the same Person.

Galatians 5:25-26 reads "If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another." Prior to this, Paul is explaining the fruits of the Spirit, three of which I would like to highlight: gentleness, patience, and kindness. We should be gentle with all people despite disagreeing, we should also be patient with people who believe things different from us, we should also be kind to each other despite different beliefs. For example, if you believe that one translation of the Bible is superior  to any of the others, why should you condemn, disgrace, and disassociate from other believers who believe the use of another is superior to yours or who believe one is not better than another? You both believe Christ is Lord, you both believe you are sinners, and you are both convinced in your own mind that you are right, so there is no reason not to get along, even if you do disagree. You are both saved, and you will know the true answer in heaven... and there is a chance both of you were wrong!

1 Cor. 1:11-12  "For it has been reported to me by Chloe's people that there is quarreling among you, my brothers. What I mean is that each one of you says, 'I follow Paul,' or 'I follow Apollos,' or 'I follow Cephas,' or 'I follow Christ.'"

In the previous verse Paul tells them that they should not be divided, and that they should be united under Christ. These verses go on to say that divisions have been among them, and he explains what he means, (which also gives us context to the previous verses.) The divisions among them (which were also referenced in the previous verse) consist of them following distinct people: Paul, Apollos, Cephas, or Christ. They didn't realize that they are all under Christ, not each under their minister. They thought that each had his own beliefs instead of realizing that under Christ are different teachers, none that are perfect, but all that are under Him. The fact that they followed teachers, instead of Christ, led to dissension, quarreling and disunity within the church. Going back up to verse ten, it also explains why Paul is telling them to be of the same mind (from the Holy Spirit, and therefore Christ.) They are of different minds, not of the same mind, they were probably judging and accusing each other based on who they were "following." Paul is trying to tell them that they should not base their or anybody else's salvation on who taught or baptized them but on the deity of Christ.

1 Cor. 1:13  "Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?"

I love Paul's sarcasm here, it really drives home his point that Christ was crucified, not Paul; they were baptized in the name of Christ, not Paul; Christ is the one who saved us, not Paul. This continues the thought from the previous verses very well. The last verses he says "this is what you say," now he is saying "Oh really? So is Christ really divided like that?". Then he says "So was I crucified for you? Did I save you?" The obvious answer is no, he did not die for them, he was not the one to save them. His other obvious question is "Is Christ divided?" the answer is no, how can and should we apply this? Are you a Calvinist? Are you a Baptist? Are you a Lutheran? I say you are none of the above, because of this verse. You are a CHRISTIAN! You are a follower of Christ, you shouldn't be a follower of Calvin; you shouldn't be a follower of Luther; you should be a follower of Christ. You may study their works, you may believe what they did, but you still are a follower of Christ because neither Luther nor Calvin died for your sins.

1 Cor. 1:14-16  "I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, so that no one may say that you were baptized in my name. (I did baptize also the household of Stephanas. Beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized anyone else.)"

Paul doesn't want to become the people's idol because it is God that is the focus, not him. If none were baptized by him, none can say they were baptized in his name. Therefore it makes it harder for people to put him at the center of their religion.

1 Cor. 1:17  "For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power."

Paul wasn't sent to baptize, he was sent to preach and spread the Gospel. He wasn't sent because he was a great orator, but because he was following Christ. The power of the cross is evident when people accept the Gospel, even when it doesn't sound good and when it wasn't persuasive. If he was eloquent, people would say that he convinced them because of his eloquence and persuasive voice and that it had nothing to do with the power of Christ's death.


Division - we need to be careful not to divide the church of God. We need to have grace when it comes to beliefs other than those central to our faith such as the Deity of Christ, the Trinity, His death and resurrection, etc. If what you believe stems from faith and doesn't go completely against the Bible, maybe you are right and maybe you are wrong, but what matters is that you believe it from faith and you are willing to be gracious, kind, and patient with those who disagree with you. I am not saying you can't disagree, or even discuss, but that you shouldn't quarrel or fight about it. Moreover, you follow CHRIST. You don't follow Paul. You don't follow Calvin. You don't follow Luther. You follow Christ. You may believe what Calvin said, and that is fine, but you are a Christian. Like Paul said, did  Calvin die for you? Were you baptized in Calvin's or Luther's name? I think not. Remember that the power of the cross is not shown when we are eloquent, or when we are good at speaking, but when the Holy Spirit speaks through us. No one can say we were good orators, no one can say it was we who convinced them; it was the Holy Spirit who convinced them. So, even if you are not good at talking, even if you are not good at sharing the Gospel, do it anyway. Let Christ reveal Himself to other people through you and despite your mistakes, showing His power and not your eloquence.