1 Corinthians 1:20
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.
19 For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”
Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?
21 For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know Him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.
22 Jews demand signs and Greeks search for wisdom,
Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?
- KJV
- Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?
- WEB
- Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Hasn’t God made foolish the wisdom of this world?
- ASV
- Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?
- DARBY
- Where [is the] wise? where scribe? where disputer of this world? has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?
- BLB
- Where [is] the wise [man]? Where [is] the scribe? Where [is] the debater of this age? Did not God make foolish the wisdom of the world?
- ÅB
- Hvor er en vismann, hvor er en skriftlærd, hvor er en gransker i denne verden? har ikke Gud gjort verdens visdom til dårskap?
- OTB
- Hvor er den vise? Hvor er den skriftlærde? Hvor er denne tidsalders debattant? Har ikke Gud vist verdens visdom å være dårskap?
- B1930
- Hvor er en vismann, hvor er en skriftlærd, hvor er en gransker i denne verden? har ikke Gud gjort verdens visdom til dårskap?
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Romans 1:22
Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools,
Read in context1 Corinthians 3:19
For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness.”
Read in contextJob 12:17
He leads counselors away barefoot and makes fools of judges.
Read in context1 Corinthians 1:19
For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”
Read in contextJob 12:24
He deprives the earth’s leaders of reason and makes them wander in a trackless wasteland.
Read in contextIsaiah 44:25
who foils the signs of false prophets and makes fools of diviners, who confounds the wise and turns their knowledge into nonsense,
Read in contextIsaiah 33:18
Your mind will ponder the former terror: “Where is he who tallies? Where is he who weighs? Where is he who counts the towers?”
Read in context2 Samuel 15:31
Now someone told David: “Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom.” So David pleaded, “O LORD, please turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness!”
Read in context