1 Corinthians 1:20

1 Corinthians 1:20 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?
• New International Version (NIV)Where is the wise person? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?
• English Standard Version (ESV)Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?
• New King James Version (NKJV)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?

Context of 1 Corinthians 1:20

18Some people think that the message about Christ's death on the cross is silly. Those people are destroying themselves. But it is different for us, the people that God is saving. The message about the cross shows us God's power to save us. 19It says in the Bible: ‘I, God, will destroy all the clever thoughts of wise people. I will show that their clever ideas are useless.’ So the wise people in this world are not really important. The clever teachers of God's Law are not really important. People who know how to argue well are not really important. God has shown that the wise ideas that belong to this world have no value. 21God himself is wise. He has decided that people cannot know him just because they are wise in their own way. Instead, God uses the message about Jesus to save people. That message may seem to be silly to some people. But when we tell it to people, God saves them if they believe it. 22Jewish people want to see God do a miracle. Then they will listen. Gentile people want to listen to a message that has clever ideas.

1 Corinthians 1:20 word by word

ποῦ σοφός; ποῦ γραμματεύς; ποῦ συζητητὴς τοῦ αἰῶνος τούτου; οὐχὶ ἐμώρανεν ὁ θεὸς τὴν σοφίαν τοῦ κόσμουRead the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Whereποῦpou · where?G4226
• the wiseσοφόςsophos · wiseG4680
• the scribeγραμματεύςgrammateus · scribeG1122
• the disputerσυζητητήςsuzētētēs · debaterG4804
• of thisοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
• worldὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• worldαἰώνaiōn · an age: ageG165
• hath notοὐχίouchi · not!G3780
• Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
• made foolishμωραίνωmōrainō · be foolishG3471
• the wisdomσοφίαsophia · wisdomG4678
• worldκόσμοςkosmos · worldG2889

Cross-references for 1 Corinthians 1:20

• Isaiah 33:18Then you will think about the time when you were afraid. You will say, ‘Where is the enemy's important officer? Where is the officer that we paid taxes to? Where is the officer who counted our strong buildings? They are no longer here to give us trouble!’
• Isaiah 53:1Will anyone believe the news that we have to tell people? Will anyone understand how the Lord has used his great power?
• 1 Corinthians 1:19It says in the Bible: ‘I, God, will destroy all the clever thoughts of wise people. I will show that their clever ideas are useless.’
• 2 Samuel 15:31Someone told David that his advisor, Ahithophel, had now joined with Absalom and his men. So David prayed, ‘Lord, please cause Ahithophel to give them foolish advice.’
• 2 Samuel 16:23In those days, people thought that Ahithophel's words were as good as a message from God. So Absalom trusted Ahithophel as his advisor, as David had done too.
• 2 Samuel 17:14Absalom and all Israel's leaders said, ‘Hushai's idea is better than Ahithophel's idea.’ This happened because the Lord did not let the people accept Ahithophel's advice. His idea was a good one, but the Lord had decided to cause trouble for Absalom.
• Job 12:17He causes clever people to become ashamed. He causes leaders to do foolish things.
• Isaiah 44:25I show that the false prophets speak useless messages. I show that those who use magic to say what will happen are fools. I cause the ideas of wise people to become useless. People think that their advice is foolish.
• Romans 1:22They said that they were wise, but really they became fools.

Commentaries on 1 Corinthians 1:20

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 20Where 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 , of the apostle, is the חכם chakam ; whose office it was to teach others. The scribe, , of the apostle, is the ספר sopher ; this signifies any man of learning, as distinguished from the common people, especially any…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 20Where is the wise? - Language similar to this occurs in Isaiah 33:18, “Where is the scribe? where is the receiver? where is he that counted the towers?” Without designing to quote these words as having an original reference to the subject now under consideration, Paul uses them as any man does language where he finds words with which he or his readers are familiar, that will convey his meaning. A man familiar with the Bible, will naturally often make use…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 17-25Verses 17-25 Paul had been bred up in Jewish learning; but the plain preaching of a crucified Jesus, was more powerful than all the oratory and philosophy of the heathen world. This is the sum and substance of the gospel. Christ crucified is the foundation of all our hopes, the fountain of all our joys. And by his death we live. The preaching of salvation for lost sinners by the sufferings and death of the Son of God, if explained and faithfully applied…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 20In God's view, human wisdom based only on the world's knowledge and expectation is foolish. True wisdom comes from the message of the cross and Jesus Christ (see 1 Corinthians 1:24, 30).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2020. Where--nowhere; for God "brings them to naught" (1Co 1:19). the wise--generally. the scribe--Jewish [Alford]. the disputer--Greek [Alford]. Compare the Jew and Greek of this world contrasted with the godly wise, 1Co 1:22, 23. Vitringa thinks the reference is to the Jewish discourses in the synagogue, daraschoth, from a Hebrew root "to dispute." Compare "questions," Ac 26:3; Tit 3:9. If so, "wise" refers to Greek wisdom (compare 1Co 1:22). Paul applies…Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Corinthians 1:20

• Blindness
• Boasting
• Reasoning
• Wisdom

In the dictionaries

• God
• god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry
• Confirm
• Corinthians, First Epistle to the
• Cross
• Disputer
• Foolishness
• Household
• Join
• Preach

Commentaries on 1 Corinthians 1

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings