25 November 2007
 
God's "Foolishness" Versus The World's "Wisdom"
Brian R. Kenyon
The Gospel presents a contrast between the lost and the saved. "For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God" (1 Cor. 1: 18). To the lost, the Gospel is "foolishness," but to the saved, that same Gospel is the "power of God" (cf. Rom. 1: 16). The saved have recognized, accepted, and appropriated the death of Christ and all the attached blessings (cf. Rom. 6:3-4); the lost have not, and are thus on the path to eternal destruction (cf. Mt. 7: 13-14; 2 Thes. 2:10). No other message has the power to save souls (1 Cor. 4:20). First Corinthians 1: 19-31 shows a contrast between the "foolishness" of God (i.e., the Gospel, which the world sees as foolishness) and the "wisdom" of the world. Since the world still thinks it is wiser than God and that the Gospel (and, for that matter, the whole Bible) is complete foolishness, it will do us well to compare, as Paul demonstrates, the "wisdom" of the world versus the power of God.
God's "Foolishness" Puts To Shame The World's "Wisdom"
What Paul is about to say concerning the total dominance of God's way over the world's thinking is not something new. God's ways have always stood in stark contrast with the ways of the world (1 Cor. 1:19 cf. Isa. 29:14; Ps. 33:10). Paul says that God's "foolishness" actually makes human "wisdom" foolish (1 Cor. 1:20). When it comes to knowing God's plan, the "wisest" that the world can offer ("the wise [Greek scholar] ... the scribe [Jewish scholar] ... the disputer of this world [sophisticated debater and skilled in rhetoric]") stand dumbfounded before God (cf. Isa. 33:18). In fact, God's way of redemption reduces all human "wisdom" to complete absurdity (cf. Lk. 10:21).
The world's "wisdom" is actually so warped that it prevents people from knowing God. Paul wrote, "For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe" (1 Cor. 1:21). Although God's existence can be known from nature (Ps. 19:1-6; Rom. 1:19-20), the Gospel plan of salvation requires knowledge of God's revelation, found only in the Bible (2 Tim. 3:15-17). The preaching of the cross is the means by which people are saved (1 Cor. 15:1-4; Rom. 10:8), not through the wisdom of the world. Preaching only saves those who obediently believe the Gospel (cf. Jn. 3:16, 36; Acts 16:30-34). Paul gives examples of what he means: "the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness" (1 Cor. 1:22-23). The Jews demanded miraculous evidence from God as proof (Mt. 12:38-41; 16:1-4; Mk8:11-12; Jn. 6:30). The Greeks were absorbed in speculative philosophy, and thus sought to base all conclusions on their own intellect (cf Acts 17:18-21). Christ crucified was a stumbling block to the Jews because, in their minds, a crucified Messiah was weak and defeated (cf. Deut. 21:23; Gal. 3:13). A crucified Messiah was also unacceptable nonsense to the Greeks (cf. Acts 17:32a). Note the world's "wisdom" today. What does it say about the Bible? How does it view Jesus Christ, His church, and Christianity? If we were to follow what the world's "wisdom" teaches, would we ever know the God of the Bible and/or His plan of salvation?
True Christians, on the other hand, do not abide by the "wisdom" of the world. Note the contrast: "But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. 25Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men" (1 Cor. 1:24-25). Those who are "called" are the ones who have obeyed the Gospel (2 Thes. 2:14). Christ is both the saving power of God (1 Pet. 1:18-20), and the wisdom of God in that He revealed (in life and word) God's plan of salvation (cf Eph. 3:8-12). That which appeared foolish to the Greek mind was actually wiser than all their "wisdom," and that which appeared weak to the Jewish mind was actually more powerful than any miraculous sign! Let us not be deceived by worldly "wisdom" to devalue the power of the Gospel!
God's Choice Outwits the World's "Wisdom"
The choice God makes is totally inconsistent with the world's "wisdom." The socially elite do not usually answer God's call: "For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called" (1 Cor. 1:26). Instead, "God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound [put to shame, NKJ] the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound [put to shame, NKJ] the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to naught things that are" (1 Cor. 1:27-28). God uses people and plans that are contrary to worldly "wisdom" (cf. Isa. 55:8-9). God powerfully uses the opposite from which worldly "wisdom" expects! God uses the nothings ("things which are not") to destroy ("bring to naught") the some things ("things that are"). Think back, for example, to David and Goliath (1 Sam. 17). Would worldly "wisdom" have chosen David to meet the giant? No way! But look what God's choice did!
Because God's choice is not according to human "wisdom," there is absolutely no room for human boasting in God's plan of salvation (1 Cor. 1:29). God's wisdom, not the world's "wisdom," has given us salvation: "But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption" (1 Cor. 1:30). Considering that God has given us the plan of salvation (Jn. 3:16; 2 Cor. 5:17-18; Eph. 2:8-10); that Christ is the embodiment of God's wisdom (Col. 2:2-3); that Christ is the means by which we have a right standing before God (Rom. 1:17; 3:26; 2 Cor. 5:21); that Christ is the means by which we are sanctified, or set apart for His service (Rom. 6:19; 1 Thes. 4:3-7); and that Christ is the means by which we are redeemed (Rom. 5:6-9; 1 Pet. 1:18-19); there can be only one reasonable response: "That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord" (1 Cor. 1:31 cf. Jer. 9:23-24)!
Let us not get trapped in this "wise" age that wants God removed. Rather, let us know that God's wisdom shows the way to true life and happiness. The world's "wisdom" always leaves us empty.