1 Corinthians 1:19-31
19 For it is written:
“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, And bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.”
20 Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?
21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe.
22 For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom;
23 but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness,
24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.
25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
Glory Only in the Lord
26 For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called.
27 But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty;
28 and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are,
29 that no flesh should glory in His presence.
30 But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption—
31 that, as it is written, “He who glories, let him glory in the Lord.”
Context
- What is the wisdom of this world? (Genesis 3:4, 5, 11:3, 4, Proverbs 14:12, 1 Corinthians 1:17, Isaiah 29:14)
Reflection
- In what ways had human philosophy crept into the church then and now? (Romans 1:21-25, Colossians 2:8, 2 Timothy 3:7)
- Why do the jews request a sign…and the Greeks knowledge? (Matthew 12:38, 16:1, 4, John 2:18, 6:30, Luke 11:28, Acts 17:21)
- What… or “Who” is the wisdom of God? (Isaiah 55:8, 9, Proverbs 9:10, John 1:14, James 3:17, 18)
- How is Jesus the personification of Wisdom (Colossians 2:3), Righteousness (2 Corinthians 5:21), Sanctification (Romans 8:29), and Redemption (Philippians 3:21)?
Testimony Time
- Why should we only ‘glory in the Lord’? (Jeremiah 9:23, 24, 2 Corinthians 10:16-18)
- How will you show off His power & wisdom today? (1 Corinthians 4:20, 6:19, 20, 2 Corinthians 10:4, 5, Ephesians 6:10)