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When a division arose in the church of Corinth, the apostle Paul blamed the root of the trouble on the Corinthian believers鈥� misunderstanding of the true nature of wisdom. Many who considered themselves wise were using their own puffed-up intellect to divide and destroy the church. Thus, Paul spends 1 Corinthians 1:18–25 contrasting worldly wisdom with the wisdom of God. Divine wisdom seems foolish and weak to those who value human knowledge, but Paul asserts, 鈥淭he foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men鈥� (1 Corinthians 1:25, ESV).

Paul begins his argument by explaining that 鈥渢he message of the cross [or 鈥榯he gospel鈥橾 is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God鈥� (1 Corinthians 1:18). According to the world鈥檚 way of thinking, the gospel is utter foolishness, dying on a cross is an act of weakness, and humility, suffering, and servanthood are attitudes of the unwise. The Jewish people were looking for a mighty, miracle-working, kingdom-conquering Savior (Acts 1:6). They forgot the Old Testament prophecies of a Messiah who would suffer and die (Psalm 22; Isaiah 53). Because of their forgetfulness, Jesus called them foolish (Luke 24:13–35).

Paul tells the Corinthians that their human thinking is worthless, citing Isaiah 29:14, where the prophet reprimands and reminds Israel that 鈥渢he wisdom of the wise will pass away, and the intelligence of the intelligent will disappear鈥� (NLT). Later, Paul states, 鈥淔or the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God鈥檚 sight鈥� (1 Corinthians 3:19). Christians are not to rely on their own wisdom or the wisdom of the world. According to James, 鈥渟uch 鈥榳isdom鈥� does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic鈥� (James 3:15).

God鈥檚 wisdom has long been regarded as foolishness to the world (Hosea 9:7; 1 Corinthians 4:9–10). Some of the world鈥檚 most brilliant philosophers, scholars, and debaters say the gospel of Jesus Christ is nonsense. Some people laugh at the message of salvation, 鈥渂ut to those called by God to salvation, both Jews and Gentiles, Christ [and His saving work on the cross] is the power of God and the wisdom of God鈥� (1 Corinthians 1:24, NLT).

Using irony, Paul calls the ministry of the gospel 鈥渇oolish preaching鈥� because that is how the world sees it: 鈥淪ince 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鈥� (1 Corinthians 1:21, NLT). Worldly wisdom does not have the power to save anyone. Instead, it only destroys the work of the gospel.

The foolishness of God is wiser than men means God鈥檚 wisdom far exceeds any human understanding and knowledge that people can possess. The message of Jesus Christ crucified is the ultimate wisdom and power of God (1 Corinthians 1:30). Those who believe the gospel and accept salvation in Jesus Christ are forgiven and set free from sin鈥檚 dominion, from divine judgment, and eternal death (2 Timothy 1:10; Romans 5:12; 6:23; Hebrews 2:14). Jesus Christ is the Christian鈥檚 wisdom and power, indeed, everything we need. What the world calls 鈥渢he foolishness of God,鈥� true believers understand to be 鈥渢he power of God,鈥� which conquers death and hell. What the lost call 鈥渢he foolishness of God,鈥� the saved know to be 鈥渢he wisdom of God,鈥� who is Jesus Christ crucified, the only One who grants eternal life to those who believe in His name.