1 Corinthians 1:18-20

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 1:18

For the preaching of the cross ,.... Not of the Christian's cross, which he is to take up and bear for the sake of Christ; though this is a doctrine taught by Christ, and his apostles, and found to be true by the saints in all ages; and is what is had in great aversion and contempt, being very disagreeable to the natural man: but of the cross of Christ, the doctrine of salvation by a crucified Christ; or the doctrine of peace and reconciliation by the blood of his cross, and of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Corinthians 1:19

As it is written ,.... The passage referred to is in Isaiah 29:14 where it is read, "the wisdom of their wise men shall perish; and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid"; and is rendered by the Septuagint, "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will hide the understanding of the prudent": which is much the same with the apostle's version of it: and the sense of the prophecy is, that in the times of the Messiah, under the Gospel dispensation, the mysteries of grace... 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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Corinthians 1:18

For the preaching of the cross - Ὁ λογος γαρ ὁ του σταυρου , The doctrine of the cross; or the doctrine that is of or concerning the cross; that is, the doctrine that proclaims salvation to a lost world through the crucifixion of Christ. Is to them that perish foolishness - There are, properly speaking, but two classes of men known where the Gospel is preached: απολλυμενοι , the unbelievers and gainsayers, who are perishing; and σοζομενοι , the obedient believers, who are in a... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Corinthians 1:19

For it is written - The place referred to is Isaiah 29:14 . I will destroy the wisdom of the wise - Των σοφων , Of wise men - of the philosophers who in their investigations seek nothing less than God, and whose highest discoveries amount to nothing in comparison of the grand truths relative to God, the invisible world, and the true end of man, which the Gospel has brought to light. Let me add, that the very discoveries which are really useful have been made by men who feared God,... 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

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Corinthians 1:18

Verse 18 18.For the preaching of the cross, etc. In this first clause a concession is made. For as it might very readily be objected, that the gospel is commonly held in contempt, if it be presented in so bare and abject a form, Paul of his own accord concedes this, but when he adds, that it is so in the estimation of them that perish, he intimates that no regard must be paid to their judgment. For who would choose to despise the gospel at the expense of perishing? This statement, therefore,... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Corinthians 1:19

Verse 19 19.For it is written, etc. He shows still farther, from the testimony of Isaiah, how unreasonable a thing it is that the truth of the gospel should be regarded with prejudice on the ground that the wise of this world hold it in contempt, not to say derision. For it is evident from the words of the Prophet, that their opinion is regarded as nothing in the account of God. The passage is taken from Isaiah 29:14, where the Lord threatens that he will avenge himself upon the hypocrisy of... read more

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