1 Corinthians 1:21-25

Scripture: 1 Cor. 1:21 For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe.

1 Cor. 1:22 For indeed Jews ask for signs and Greeks search for wisdom;

1 Cor. 1:23 but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness,

1 Cor. 1:24 but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.

1 Cor. 1:25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

Teaching: Paul is making a point that human wisdom does not lead to knowing God; quite the opposite, God intended that the message of the cross be so simple that it could be grasped by any (not requiring human wisdom) and powerful that they know it was only of God. In verses 22-24, he contrasts this simple yet powerful message with what was appealing to the flesh, or worldliness, of Jews and Greeks. Jews, having an understanding and faith in the Old Testament, knew that a Messiah was promised to Israel but demanded signs and wonders to prove it (see Matthew 1-12 for such signs and wonders). Greeks, on the other hand, had no concept of a Messiah, or even that they needed saving (in many cases), and thus scrutinized any spiritual claim seeking to be thoroughly convinced rather than accept it in faith. The Greeks sought wisdom as proof of a claim, which the Gospel, or Christ crucified, was seemingly not.  Thus, the lack of signs and wonders from Paul and the lack of wisdom in his speech and letters was a “stumbling block” to faith in Christ for both Jews and Greeks who could not see past their desire for earthly proof of Paul’s claims. However, by the power of God, this “foolish” and unimpressive message of Christ crucified continued to elicit faith from those whom God had called.

Takeaway: The world seeks for God only insofar as He grants them power, wealth, and wisdom and thus, they seek for God by these same means. They look for confirmation of His power in the tangible outcomes that they ascribe to Him. They see a growing wealth as evidence of God, a powerful platform as proof of His blessing, or impressive wisdom as the hallmark of His hand in their life. But none of these things are proof of God as they all can be counterfeited by Satan and be the exact stumbling blocks that lead us away from a true relationship with Christ. The true mark of God in our lives is His grace. The only reason any of us to come faith in the “foolish” message of the cross is that God called us to it, He softened our hearts to the message of the Gospel, and indwelled us with His Holy Spirit so that we were made new in Him and changed forevermore. We are all desperately undeserving of such grace but God provides it nonetheless in Christ. So, even though such a message seems foolish, and come without powerful signs or clever wisdom, it is the life-changing truth we all need. As Paul says in verse 25, God’s way is always the better way, even if it seems foolish or weak to us.