People in Paul’s day highly valued wisdom. People would gather in public places to hear each other’s arguments and debate new ideas. Those with the tightest arguments and best delivery were revered. Jennie spoke about a time when Paul attempted to reason with the people of Athens in Acts 17:16–34.
We know from 1 Corinthians 1:17 that Paul wasn’t about impressing people with his words. His only concern was the gospel. But, as we’ve seen this week, the people of Corinth were heavily influenced by their culture’s definition of eloquence and wisdom. So Paul continues his argument to show them that the things the world values pale in comparison to God.
Read 1 Corinthians 1:18–31. While you’re reading, notice how many times Paul mentions wisdom, foolishness, and power.
Christ the Wisdom and Power of God
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. 19 For it is written,
“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.”
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? 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. 22 For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, 24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
26 For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; 28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, 29 so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. 30 And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, 31 so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”
After reading the passage, how would you define the world’s wisdom? What about God’s wisdom?
Paul sets up God’s wisdom and the world’s wisdom as opposing each other. God’s ways often look like folly to the world, but in the end, it’s actually the world that’s got it wrong. The fact that the Corinthians are putting all their chips on certain leaders falls into the category of worldly wisdom—it’s actually foolish.
But then Paul turns the tables on the Corinthians. He tells them that they were foolish, weak, and despised even before Christ. They’ve got nothing to show for their salvation. But, even so, God chose them. And he chose you.
Think about it. You had nothing to offer God. Nothing.
But He chose to save you. To give you life. To bring you into his family.
That’s good news.
In 1 Corinthians 1:30–31, Paul brings us back to the main idea we talked about in day one. We can choose selfishness and boast in ourselves, the leader we follow, or the person who baptized us. Or we can choose the selfless way—the way that often looks foolish to the world—and boast in God.
Which will you choose?
Spend a few minutes journaling about the fact that you came to God with nothing, but He gave you everything. How does that truth sit with you? How has it changed the way you think? The way you live?
Text your response to the above prompting questions to your group and/or share it as a comment below
I remember the day I came to realize that the way of the world was foolish. When I attended college, many people would praise my major and how lucky I was to be pursuing that degree. During this time, the tech boom was occurring and it seemed like a wise choice. But in a matter of years and just before I graduated, the tech bubble burst. All of the hard work and pursuit of my own selfish goals became foolish and later many of the things that the world had told me to pursue became meaningless as well. I soon realized that everything the world told me was foolish and I am thankful that God pursued me in this time and that I am able to boast in Him alone.