What is the meaning of 1 Corinthians 3:20? And again, - Paul has just quoted Job 5:13 in verse 19, and now, with “And again,” he piles on a second citation (Psalm 94:11) to seal his point. Scripture often establishes truth by more than one witness (see Deuteronomy 19:15; 2 Corinthians 13:1). - The phrase reminds the church at Corinth that God’s verdict on human pride is not a new idea; it reverberates through the whole Bible. - It also nudges us to let Scripture interpret Scripture. When we see “again,” we should look back and forward, connecting the dots God Himself has already drawn. The Lord knows - God’s knowledge is total and personal. Psalm 139:1-4 says, “O LORD, You have searched me and known me… You are aware of all my ways.” Nothing slips past Him (Hebrews 4:13). - For believers, this is both comfort and correction: comfort because our Father understands us completely; correction because we cannot hide self-reliance or pride. - His knowing is active; He “searches every heart and understands every desire and every thought” (1 Chronicles 28:9). We can trust His assessments over any human opinion. the thoughts of the wise - In Corinth, “the wise” referred to philosophers and rhetoricians admired by the culture. Yet 1 Corinthians 1:20 asks, “Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?” - Scripture draws a sharp line between wisdom from above and wisdom that is “earthly, unspiritual, demonic” (James 3:15). - Proverbs 3:7 warns, “Do not be wise in your own eyes,” underscoring that self-made wisdom quickly drifts into arrogance. - God is not dismissing education or intellect; He is exposing any mindset that sidelines Him. are futile - Psalm 94:11, the source of Paul’s quote, states it plainly: “The LORD knows that the thoughts of man are futile.” - Futile means empty, powerless, unable to accomplish what truly matters. Romans 1:21 uses the same idea: “they became futile in their thinking.” - Ecclesiastes 1:14 sums up life under the sun without God as “futile, a chasing after the wind.” Human schemes may glitter, but apart from the Lord they cannot secure salvation, lasting joy, or eternal significance. - God “frustrates the plans of the nations” and “thwarts the purposes of the peoples” (Psalm 33:10), proving again that only His counsel stands. summary Paul’s short citation packs a lasting punch: Scripture speaks twice to confirm that God sees straight through human self-confidence. The Lord, who knows everything, pronounces worldly wisdom empty. True wisdom begins by honoring Him, rests on Christ alone, and bears fruit that will endure. |
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