1 Corinthians 1:25 kjv
Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
1 Corinthians 1:25 nkjv
Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
1 Corinthians 1:25 niv
For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.
1 Corinthians 1:25 esv
For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
1 Corinthians 1:25 nlt
This foolish plan of God is wiser than the wisest of human plans, and God's weakness is stronger than the greatest of human strength.
1 Corinthians 1 25 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Cor 1:18 | For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. | The cross as perceived foolishness but actual divine power. |
| 1 Cor 1:23-24 | but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. | Christ crucified as foolishness vs. God's power/wisdom. |
| Isa 55:8-9 | “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts." | God's superior ways and thoughts over humans. |
| Job 5:12-13 | He frustrates the plans of the crafty, so that their hands achieve no success. He catches the wise in their craftiness, and the schemes of the cunning are thwarted. | God foils human wisdom. |
| Ps 33:10-11 | The Lord thwarts the plans of the nations; He frustrates the purposes of the peoples. The plans of the Lord stand firm forever, the purposes of His heart through all generations. | God's eternal plans triumph over human ones. |
| Prov 3:5-7 | Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes... | Relying on God's wisdom, not self-wisdom. |
| Rom 11:33 | Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out! | Unfathomable depth of God's wisdom and knowledge. |
| 2 Cor 12:9-10 | My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness. Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me... | God's power made perfect in human weakness. |
| Ps 147:10-11 | He does not delight in the strength of the horse; He takes no pleasure in the legs of a man. The Lord delights in those who fear Him, in those who hope in His steadfast love. | God values faith over human strength. |
| Zech 4:6 | ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the Lord of hosts. | Divine purpose accomplished by the Spirit, not human force. |
| Eph 6:10 | Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. | Believers drawing strength from God's might. |
| 1 Cor 2:7-8 | but we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory... | God's hidden wisdom not understood by rulers. |
| Isa 40:29 | He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength. | God empowers the powerless. |
| Phil 2:7-8 | [Christ] emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself... even the death of the cross. | Christ's self-humiliation, an act appearing weak. |
| 1 Cor 1:26-29 | For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called; but God has chosen the foolish things of the world... | God chooses the seemingly foolish and weak to shame the wise and strong. |
| Zeph 3:12 | But I will leave in your midst a meek and humble people, and they shall trust in the name of the Lord. | God uses the humble. |
| Luke 10:21 | In that hour Jesus rejoiced in the Spirit and said, “I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and revealed them to babes.” | God reveals truth to the simple, not the worldly wise. |
| Ps 8:2 | Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants You have ordained strength because of Your enemies, to silence the enemy and the avenger. | God's strength from the seemingly insignificant. |
| Rom 8:3 | For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh... | God overcomes weakness of the law through Christ. |
| Heb 11:34 | [Saints] out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. | God makes His people strong through their weakness. |
| Col 2:8 | Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world... | Warning against reliance on human philosophies. |
1 Corinthians 1 verses
1 Corinthians 1 25 Meaning
This verse declares a profound paradox of God's nature and methods. What appears as foolishness and weakness from a human perspective, particularly concerning the message of Christ crucified, is actually superior wisdom and invincible strength in God's divine reality. It emphasizes that God's ways far transcend and supersede human reasoning and power.
1 Corinthians 1 25 Context
First Corinthians addresses a Christian community in Corinth struggling with divisions, moral issues, and spiritual immaturity. A significant problem was the congregation's tendency to embrace the prevailing Greco-Roman cultural values, which greatly esteemed philosophical eloquence, rhetorical skill, and worldly wisdom. The apostle Paul, through the Spirit, confronted these inclinations head-on. This particular verse (1 Cor 1:25) is part of a broader argument beginning in verse 18, where Paul contrasts the "wisdom of the world" with "the message of the cross." To the self-assured, intellectually proud, and rhetorically sophisticated Corinthians, the idea of a crucified Messiah was scandalous or absurd. Jews demanded miraculous signs, and Gentiles (Greeks) sought profound philosophical discourse. Yet, Paul proclaims Christ crucified, which, from their perspective, represented both a "stumbling block" and "foolishness." Paul uses this perceived foolishness and weakness (the cross) to powerfully demonstrate God's actual, supreme wisdom and strength, contrasting it directly with humanity's limited and flawed understanding.
1 Corinthians 1 25 Word analysis
Because (Γάρ - Gar): A connective particle indicating a reason or explanation for the preceding statement (in this case, why the cross is God's power and wisdom). It introduces a foundational truth.
the foolishness (μωρία - mōria): Not actual divine foolishness, but the perceived foolishness of God's ways or actions from a human, worldly perspective. It refers to the divine method that appears nonsensical or absurd to the wisdom of the world, primarily exemplified by the message of Christ crucified.
- Significance: Paul uses ironic language to subvert human pride in their own intellect. God chooses what seems ridiculous to confound human self-sufficiency.
of God (τοῦ Θεοῦ - tou Theou): Pertains to the Divine nature; originating from, belonging to, or characteristic of God. This indicates that even God's apparent foolishness has divine attributes and purpose.
- Significance: Emphasizes that this paradox stems from the very being of an infinitely wise and sovereign God.
is wiser (σοφώτερον - sophōteron): Comparative adjective, meaning "more wise," "wiser." It declares God's "foolishness" not only surpasses but also renders trivial human wisdom.
- Significance: Direct contrast, showing divine superiority in effectiveness and true insight. God's seemingly absurd path leads to ultimate wisdom and truth.
than men (τῶν ἀνθρώπων - tōn anthrōpōn): Refers to human beings and their inherent, limited understanding, logic, and reasoning abilities when divorced from divine revelation.
- Significance: Sets up a clear distinction and superiority. Human intellectual and philosophical systems are incapable of discerning divine truth on their own.
and the weakness (τὸ ἀσθενὲς - to asthenes): Refers to that which is "weak," "powerless," or "frail," again, as perceived by human standards. It specifically points to the humble and suffering aspect of God's action, most notably the crucifixion, which appeared utterly powerless and shameful in the Roman world.
- Significance: Another paradox. God uses what is considered weak by humans as His means to display unmatched strength.
of God (τοῦ Θεοῦ - tou Theou): (See above) Reinforces the divine origin and purpose of this perceived weakness.
is stronger (ἰσχυρότερον - ischyroteron): Comparative adjective, meaning "more strong," "stronger." It affirms that God's "weakness" possesses greater potency and effectiveness than any human power.
- Significance: Reverses human valuation. What humans consider strong often proves ineffectual, while God's apparent weakness achieves ultimate victory.
than men (τῶν ἀνθρώπων - tōn anthrōpōn): (See above) Continues the contrast, highlighting that human might and power pale in comparison to God's ways.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "the foolishness of God": A profound theological paradox. It speaks not of a defect in God but the inability of the finite human mind to grasp the depth and counter-intuitive nature of God's redemptive plan, specifically the cross. What human reason deems irrational, God proclaims as true wisdom.
- "wiser than men": This phrase directly asserts the absolute superiority of divine wisdom over all human wisdom, whether philosophical, scientific, or practical. God's "foolish" methods accomplish His purposes where human "wisdom" fails.
- "the weakness of God": Another stunning paradox. This points to the humble, non-coercive, suffering path chosen by God in Christ (culminating in the crucifixion). This self-giving vulnerability, seen as utter weakness by the world, is the means of accomplishing ultimate spiritual power and victory.
- "stronger than men": This emphasizes that God's perceived weakness contains power far beyond any human strength or military might. It refers to the resurrection and salvation, which are the direct results of this "weakness," utterly transcending human capabilities. God works effectually where human power is futile.
1 Corinthians 1 25 Bonus section
This verse implies an epistemological clash: how humans know and value things versus how God operates. Worldly wisdom is often self-centered, seeking human glory, intellectual recognition, or material gain. Divine wisdom, however, is oriented towards God's glory and the salvation of humanity, often manifesting in humility, sacrifice, and unexpected means. Paul is dismantling the Corinthian tendency to judge God's work by human standards of sophistication and power. The truth presented here challenges believers to continually re-evaluate what they deem important, strong, or wise, aligning their perspectives with God's paradoxical yet perfect reality. This reorientation requires humility and faith, recognizing that God's greatest victories often arise from scenarios that appear, from a purely human standpoint, to be failures or insignificant acts.
1 Corinthians 1 25 Commentary
First Corinthians 1:25 encapsulates Paul's central argument concerning the superiority of divine wisdom and power over human wisdom and strength. It serves as the bedrock for understanding why God chose the scandalous message of Christ crucified as the means of salvation. To the proud intellectuals of Corinth and indeed, to human nature, a suffering and dying Messiah seems illogical ("foolishness") and utterly devoid of power ("weakness"). Yet, Paul declares this seeming paradox as God's true genius and strength. The "foolishness of God" is ultimately the profound, counter-intuitive strategy of divine love and redemption manifested in the cross, which saves and transforms, where all human philosophy and self-effort prove inadequate. Likewise, the "weakness of God"—epitomized in Christ's vulnerability on the cross—unleashes a transformative spiritual power far surpassing any earthly might, leading to victory over sin and death through resurrection. This verse humbles human pride, exposing the limitations of natural reason, and invites surrender to God's higher, supernatural ways, recognizing His unconventional methods as ultimately the most potent and intelligent. It illustrates that God often works through what the world despises or discounts to reveal His glory.
- Example: Human "wisdom" might seek political power for change, but God works through humble missionaries.
- Example: Human "strength" might build empires, but God's power is revealed in suffering servanthood.