1 Corinthians 1:19-25 For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.… So far as we can understand the Divine dealings with our race, it appears that, for some four thousand years, God left the nations to a free experiment. They might find out for themselves what is the "chief good of man." The more civilized Gentile nations were interested in one form of the experiment, viz. - Can man find God, and all in God, by the researches of his own wisdom? At Corinth much was made of man's "wisdom." Therefore Paul deals with it, and shows that - I. HITHERTO MAN'S WISDOM HAD FAILED. The various devices of science, philosophy, and religion may be reviewed; and the actually hopeless moral condition of Paul's age should be forcibly presented. There was prevalent atheism; religion was mocked at; philosophy was an amusement, and had become a mere logomachy, an arena for mere disputants; and there was no satisfaction for man's mind or heart anywhere. The foolishness of the world's wisdom was declared. Impress what must be the consequences always if man's wisdom is made mistress, and not kept handmaid. II. HENCEFORTH MAN'S WISDOM MUST BE DISPLACED. It was not to be the Divine agency employed in the redemption of the world. That should be revelation, not man's discovery. A manifestation, in the earthly spheres, beyond human imagination. A life and death, in which human wisdom would see nought but weakness and shame. And the simple heralding of a message, the proclaiming of a fact and truth given, which the wise of this world would think any commonplace and ignorant person could do. Yet God's wisdom proves able to accomplish that in which man's wisdom failed. For the gospel preaching does bring God near to men, does bring home to them the knowledge of him and the love of him, and does give to men the salvation, satisfaction, and eternal life which they both need and seek. - R.T. Parallel Verses KJV: For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. |
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