1 Corinthians 1:21 kjv

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 Corinthians 1:21 nkjv

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.

1 Corinthians 1:21 niv

For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.

1 Corinthians 1:21 esv

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.

1 Corinthians 1:21 nlt

Since God in his wisdom saw to it that the world would never know him through human wisdom, he has used our foolish preaching to save those who believe.

1 Corinthians 1 verses

1 Corinthians 1 21 Meaning

1 Corinthians 1:21 explains that despite God's wisdom being evident in the created world, humanity, relying on its own intellect and philosophical pursuits, failed to come to a true, saving knowledge of Him. Therefore, it was God's deliberate and sovereign choice to use the message of the cross, which the world considers foolish, as the means to bring salvation to all who place their faith in Him. This highlights God's plan to save humanity not through human wisdom or strength, but through His seemingly counter-intuitive method, the "foolishness" of the gospel message.

1 Corinthians 1 21 Context

1 Corinthians chapter 1 begins Paul's address to a divided church in Corinth, which was influenced by different factions aligning with various leaders and valuing human wisdom and rhetorical prowess. Paul immediately challenges these worldly perspectives by contrasting them with the true wisdom and power of God, found in Christ crucified. Verses 18-25 are central to this argument, presenting the "message of the cross" as "foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God" (1:18). Verse 21 flows directly from this, explaining why God chose this seemingly paradoxical method: because human wisdom proved utterly insufficient for humanity to genuinely know Him, necessitating God's sovereign choice to use what the world deemed foolish to accomplish salvation for believers. The historical and cultural backdrop of Corinth, a highly intellectual and philosophically-driven Greek city, illuminates the sharp polemic Paul makes against human pride and the veneration of intellectual and oratorical skill, pointing instead to the simple, humbling, yet powerful, gospel of Christ crucified.

1 Corinthians 1 21 Word analysis

• For since, in the wisdom of God: The phrase "in the wisdom of God" (Greek: en tē sophia tou Theou) refers to God's inherent, perfect, and ultimate wisdom, which is displayed throughout His creation and His divine plan. This isn't just about general revelation; it hints at God's sovereign design, which foreordained that human wisdom would fail to comprehend Him, thus making way for His own method of salvation. It underlines that even God's display of His wisdom in creation (Rom 1:20) did not lead the world to a saving knowledge of Him.

• the world through its wisdom did not know God,

  • the world (Greek: ho kosmos): Represents humanity alienated from God, steeped in worldly perspectives, and relying on its own intellect and systems of thought apart from divine revelation. In the Corinthian context, this often points to the prevalent Greek philosophies and their pursuit of knowledge and truth through human reason alone.
  • through its wisdom (Greek: dia tēs sophias): Refers to human wisdom, rational thought, philosophical systems, eloquent rhetoric, and worldly intellectual achievements. Paul is making a sharp distinction between God's wisdom and man's wisdom. This "wisdom" proved futile in understanding ultimate spiritual truth.
  • did not know God (Greek: ouk gnō Gnod from ginōskō): This isn't merely a lack of intellectual understanding but a failure to come to a deep, relational, and saving knowledge of God. Humanity, despite God's self-revelation in creation (Rom 1:19-20), proved unwilling or unable to apprehend Him for salvation through their own intellectual efforts.

• it pleased God (Greek: eudokēsen ho Theos): Signifies God's sovereign will, good pleasure, and deliberate decision. This was not a last resort or an accidental outcome, but a purposeful choice made according to God's wise and unchangeable plan. It highlights His divine initiative in salvation.

• through the foolishness of what was preached

  • through the foolishness (Greek: dia tēs mōrias): This is how the message of the cross (Christ crucified and resurrected) is perceived by those who depend on worldly wisdom. It is considered absurd, illogical, and weak to those seeking human philosophical profundity or miraculous signs. The cross itself represents a stumbling block and a scandal to human reasoning (1 Cor 1:23).
  • of what was preached (Greek: tou kerygmatos): Refers specifically to the proclamation, the message of the gospel – particularly Christ crucified and risen. It emphasizes the spoken and proclaimed nature of the gospel, contrasting it with complex philosophical treatises. Its simplicity and seeming absurdity were precisely God's chosen tools.

• to save those who believe.

  • to save (Greek: sōsai): The ultimate purpose of God's action. This salvation encompasses deliverance from sin, its consequences (death and judgment), and spiritual restoration, bringing humanity into a right relationship with God.
  • those who believe (Greek: tous pisteuontas): Identifies the condition for receiving this salvation – faith. It contrasts with reliance on human intellect, works, or seeking signs. Salvation is appropriated by simple trust and acceptance of God's message, regardless of one's worldly wisdom or status.

• Phrase Analysis:

  • "in the wisdom of God, the world through its wisdom did not know God": This highlights a paradoxical contrast. God's inherent wisdom (or wisdom manifest in creation) was available, yet human "wisdom" proved insufficient or even detrimental to knowing God. It’s a polemic against human intellectual pride and autonomy in spiritual matters.
  • "it pleased God through the foolishness of what was preached to save": This emphasizes God's sovereign choice and method. He deliberately chose what seems weak and foolish by human standards—the simple, scandalous message of a crucified Messiah—as His powerful means of salvation. This reinforces that salvation is wholly of God, not of man's design or merit.

1 Corinthians 1 21 Bonus section

The "foolishness" referred to is not that the Gospel is actually foolish, but that it is perceived as such by those who reject it based on their worldly reasoning. It serves as a test, exposing the futility of human wisdom in grasping divine truth. God's decision to use this perceived foolishness underscores His complete independence from human methods and His commitment to humbling human pride. This echoes prophetic themes (e.g., Isa 29:14) where God determines to destroy the wisdom of the wise, paving the way for His own counter-cultural plan of salvation. It is God's power made perfect in perceived weakness (2 Cor 12:9).

1 Corinthians 1 21 Commentary

1 Corinthians 1:21 is a pivotal statement in Paul’s argument for the supremacy of God’s wisdom over human wisdom, specifically concerning salvation. It directly challenges the philosophical pride prevalent in Corinth and the Jewish demand for signs. The verse posits that human intellect, even when confronted with God's clear revelation in creation, is inherently incapable of attaining a saving knowledge of God. Humanity, in its autonomous "wisdom," built barriers rather than bridges to God. Therefore, God, in His sovereign good pleasure, chose a method utterly counter-intuitive to human thought: the proclamation of the cross. This message, seen as utter "foolishness" by the wise of this world, became the divinely appointed power for salvation. Salvation is thus contingent not on human intellectual acumen or worldly status, but on a humble, simple act of faith in what appears to be illogical or weak to the unconverted mind. This divine reversal confounds the wise and empowers the humble, ensuring that all glory redounds to God alone.