1 Corinthians 1:20-21 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Corinthians 1:17-31

We have here, I. The manner in which Paul preached the gospel, and the cross of Christ: Not with the wisdom of words (1 Cor. 1:17), the enticing words of man's wisdom (1 Cor. 2:4), the flourish of oratory, or the accuracies of philosophical language, upon which the Greeks so much prided themselves, and which seem to have been the peculiar recommendations of some of the heads of the faction in this church that most opposed this apostle. He did not preach the gospel in this manner, lest the... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 1 Corinthians 1:18-25

1:18-25 For the story of the Cross is foolishness to those who are on the way to destruction, but it is the power of God to those who are on the way to salvation. For it stands written, "I will wipe out the wisdom of the wise and I will bring to nothing the cleverness of the clever." Where is the wise? Where is the expert in the law? Where is the man who debates about this world's wisdom? Did not God render foolish the wisdom of this world? For when, in God's wisdom, the world for all its... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Corinthians 1:20

Where is the wise? where is the Scribe? .... These are the apostle's own words; though he may allude to Isaiah 33:18 where there are some phrases much like these, but the meaning is very different. Though they are interpreted by the Talmudists F7 T. Bab. Sanhedrin, fol. 106. 2. & Chagiga, fol. 15. 2. in a sense pretty near the apostle's; for thus they remark upon them, "where is the Scribe? he that counts all the letters which are in the law; "where is the receiver, or... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Corinthians 1:21

For after that in the wisdom of God ,.... These words contain a reason proving the infatuation of men, with respect to "the wisdom of God"; by which may be meant either Christ, who is the wisdom of God, was in the world, and yet the world of the Jews, and their chief Rabbins among them, with all their wisdom, neither knew him, nor God his Father; or the Gospel, which is also so called, and though this was come, both into the Jewish and Gentile world, yet neither of them, by their natural... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Corinthians 1:20

Where is the wise - the scribe - the disputer of this world? - These words most manifestly refer to the Jews; as the places ( Isaiah 29:14 ; Isaiah 33:18 ; Isaiah 44:25 ;) to which he refers cannot be understood of any but the Jews. The wise man σοφος , of the apostle, is the חכם chakam ; whose office it was to teach others. The scribe, γραμματευς , of the apostle, is the ספר sopher ; this signifies any man of learning, as distinguished from the common people,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Corinthians 1:21

For after that in the wisdom of God - Dr. Lightfoot observes, "That σοφια του Θεου , the wisdom of God, is not to be understood of that wisdom which had God for its author, but that wisdom which had God for its object. There was, among the heathen, σοφια της φυσεως , wisdom about natural things, that is, philosophy; and σοφια του Θεου , wisdom about God; that is, divinity. But the world in its divinity could not, by wisdom, know God." The plain meaning of this verse is, that the wise... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Corinthians 1:20

Verse 20 20.Where is the wise? where is the scribe? This expression of triumph is added for the purpose of illustrating the Prophet’s testimony. Paul has not taken this sentiment from Isaiah, as is commonly thought, but speaks in his own person. For the passage which they point to (Isaiah 33:18) has nothing corresponding to the subject in hand, or nearly approaching to it. For in that passage, while he promises to the Jews deliverance from the yoke of Sennacherib, that he may magnify the more... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Corinthians 1:21

Verse 21 21.For since the world knew not. The right order of things was assuredly this, that man, contemplating the wisdom of God in his works, by the light of the understanding furnished him by nature, might arrive at an acquaintance with him. As, however, this order of things has been reversed through man’s depravity, God designs in the first place to make us see ourselves to be fools, before he makes us wise unto salvation, (2 Timothy 3:15;) and secondly, as a token of his wisdom, he... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 1:1-31