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

18For 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. 19For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise and bring to nothing the understanding of the intelligent.” Where is the wise one? Where is the Torah scholar? Where is the debater of this age? Hasn’t God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21For seeing that—in God’s wisdom—the world through its wisdom did not know God, God was pleased—through the foolishness of the message proclaimed—to save those who believe. 22For Jewish people ask for signs and Greek people seek after wisdom,

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 33:18Your heart will meditate on terror: “Where is the counter?” “Where is the weigher?” “Where is the counter of towers?”
• Isaiah 53:1‘Who has believed our report? To whom is the arm of Adonai revealed?
• 1 Corinthians 1:19For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise and bring to nothing the understanding of the intelligent.”
• 2 Samuel 15:31Then someone told David saying, “Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom.” So David prayed, “Adonai, please turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness.”
• 2 Samuel 16:23Now in those days the counsel that Ahithophel gave was like inquiring for the word of God—so was all of Ahithophel’s counsel both with David and with Absalom.
• 2 Samuel 17:14Then Absalom and all the men of Israel said, “The counsel of Hushai the Archite is better than the counsel of Ahithophel.” For Adonai had ordained to thwart Ahithophel’s good counsel, so that Adonai might bring evil upon Absalom.
• Job 12:17He leads counselors away stripped and makes judges into fools.
• Isaiah 44:25causing the omens of boasters to fail, making fools of diviners, turning wise men backward and making their knowledge foolish,
• Romans 1:22Claiming to be wise, 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