1 Corinthians 1

1 Corinthians · Chapter 1

1 Corinthians 1:20

1Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother,2Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:3Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.4I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ;5That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge;6Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you:7So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ:8Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.9God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.10Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.11For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you.12Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ.13Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?14I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius;15Lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name.16And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any other.17For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.18For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.19For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.20Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?21For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.22For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:23But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;24But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.25Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.26For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:27But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;28And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:29That no flesh should glory in his presence.30But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:31That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.

King James Version (1769)

Other translations

VerseKJVBSBASV
20Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?

In context

Who is speaking and to whom, what is happening, when and where, and why it matters, each with its sources. Coming with the context cards.

Original Greek words

EnglishGreekSay itStrong'sMeaning
Where [is the]ποῦpouG4226
where?

ποῦ (pou) ποῦ interrog. adv., [in LXX for אַי, אַיֵּה, אָן ;] 1. prop., where?: Mat.2:2 26:17, Mrk.14:12, 14, Luk.17:17, 37 22:9, 11, Jhn.1:39 7:11 8:10, 19 9:12 11:34; ποῦ (ἐστιν), indicating that the subject in question is not to be found, Luk.8:25, Rom.3:27, 1Co.1:20 12:17 12:19 15:55, Gal.4:15, 2Pe.3:4; ποῦ φανεῖται, 1Pe.4:18. 2. = ὅπου (WM, 640; B1., § 50, 5): with indic., Mat.2:4, Mrk.15:47, Jhn.1:40 11:57 20:2, 13 20:15 Rev.2:13; with subjc., Mat.8:20, Luk.9:58 12:17. …

wise?σοφός;sophosG4680
wise

σοφός (sophos) σοφός, -ή, -όν [in LXX chiefly for חָכָם ;] skilled, clever, wise, whether in handicraft, the affairs of life, the sciences or learning: Rom.16:19, 1Co.3:10; of the learned, Rom.1:14, 22, 1Co.1:19-20 1:26-27 3:18-20; of Jewish teachers, Mat.11:25, Luk.10:21; Christian, Mat.23:34; of those en­dowed with practical wisdom, 1Co.6:5, Eph.5:15, Jas.3:13; of God, Rom.16:27; compar., τ. μωρὸν τ. θεοῦ σοφώτερον, 1Co.1:25.† SYN.: συνετός, φρόνιμος (see: σοφία, SYN.) (AS)

Where [the]ποῦpouG4226
where?

ποῦ (pou) ποῦ interrog. adv., [in LXX for אַי, אַיֵּה, אָן ;] 1. prop., where?: Mat.2:2 26:17, Mrk.14:12, 14, Luk.17:17, 37 22:9, 11, Jhn.1:39 7:11 8:10, 19 9:12 11:34; ποῦ (ἐστιν), indicating that the subject in question is not to be found, Luk.8:25, Rom.3:27, 1Co.1:20 12:17 12:19 15:55, Gal.4:15, 2Pe.3:4; ποῦ φανεῖται, 1Pe.4:18. 2. = ὅπου (WM, 640; B1., § 50, 5): with indic., Mat.2:4, Mrk.15:47, Jhn.1:40 11:57 20:2, 13 20:15 Rev.2:13; with subjc., Mat.8:20, Luk.9:58 12:17. …

scribe?γραμματεύς;grammateusG1122
scribe

γραμματεύς (grammateus) γραμματεύς, -έως (accusative pl., -εῖς, see Bl., §8, 2), ὁ (γράμμα), [in LXX always for שׁטר in Hex., elsewhere chiefly for ספר ;] 1. a secretary; γ. τ. πόλεως, a state-clerk: Act.19:35. 2. In π., of a military officer (Deiss., BS, 110f.). So Jdg.5:14, 4Ki.25:19 (ספר), al. …

Where [the]ποῦpouG4226
where?

ποῦ (pou) ποῦ interrog. adv., [in LXX for אַי, אַיֵּה, אָן ;] 1. prop., where?: Mat.2:2 26:17, Mrk.14:12, 14, Luk.17:17, 37 22:9, 11, Jhn.1:39 7:11 8:10, 19 9:12 11:34; ποῦ (ἐστιν), indicating that the subject in question is not to be found, Luk.8:25, Rom.3:27, 1Co.1:20 12:17 12:19 15:55, Gal.4:15, 2Pe.3:4; ποῦ φανεῖται, 1Pe.4:18. 2. = ὅπου (WM, 640; B1., § 50, 5): with indic., Mat.2:4, Mrk.15:47, Jhn.1:40 11:57 20:2, 13 20:15 Rev.2:13; with subjc., Mat.8:20, Luk.9:58 12:17. …

debaterσυζητητὴςsuzētētēsG4804
debater

συζητητής (suzētētēs) συν-ζητητής (Rec. συζ-), -οῦ, ἁ (συνζητέω), a disputer, disputant: 1Co.1:20.† (AS)

ageαἰῶνοςaiōnosG0165G
an age: age

αἰών (aiōn) αἰών, -ῶνος, ὁ, [in LXX chiefly for עַד ,עוֹלָם ;] 1. in cl., like Lat. aevum (LS, MM, VGT, see word), a space of time, as, a lifetime, generation, period of history, an indefinitely long period; in NT of an indefinitely long period, an age, eternity, usually with prep. (MM, VGT); (a) of the past: ἀπ᾽ αἰ. (cf. Heb. מֵעוֹלָם), Luk.1:70; …

this?τούτου;toutouG3778
this/he/she/it

οὗτος (ohutos) οὗτος, αὕτη, τοῦτο, genitive, τούτου, ταύτης, τούτου, [in LXX chiefly for זֹאת ,זֶה ;] demonstr. pron. (related to ἐκεῖνος as hic to ille), this; 1. as subst., this one, he; (a) absol.: Mat.3:17, Mrk.9:7, Luk.7:44, 45, Jhn.1:15, Act.2:15, al.; expressing contempt (cl.), Mat.13:55, 56, Mrk.6:2, 3, Jhn.6:42, al.; εἰς τοῦτο, Mrk.1:38, Rom.14:9; μετὰ τοῦτο (ταῦτα; V. Westc. on Jhn.5:1), Jhn.2:12 11:7, al.; (b) epanaleptic (referring to what precedes): Mat.5:19, Mrk.3:35, Luk.9:48, Jhn.6:46, Rom.7:10, al.; …

SurelyοὐχὶouchiG3780
not!

οὐχί (ouchi) οὐχί strengthened form of οὐ, not; (a) in neg. sentences, not, not at all: Luk.1:60 12:51, Jhn.13:10, al.; (b) more frequently in questions where an affirm. ans. is expected (Lat. nonne) : Mat.5:46-47, Luk.6:39, Jhn.11:9, al. (AS)

has made foolishἐμώρανενemōranenG3471
be foolish

μωραίνω (mōrainō) μωραίνω (μωρός), [in LXX: Isa.19:11, Jer.10:14 51:17 (בָּעַר ni.), 2Ki.24:10, Isa.44:25 R (שָׂכַל ni., pi.)* ;] 1. cl., to be foolish, play the fool. 2. LXX and NT, causal, to make foolish: 1Co.1:20; pass., to become foolish: Rom.1:22; of salt that has lost its flavour, become tasteless: Mat.5:13, Luk.14:34.† (AS)

GodθεὸςtheosG2316
God

θεός (theos) θεός, -οῦ, ὁ, ἡ (Act.19:37 only; see M, Pr., 60, 244), late voc., θεέ (Mat.27:46; cf. Deu.3:24, al.), [in LXX chiefly for אֱלֹהִים, also for אֵל and other cognate forms, יהוה, etc. ;] a god or deity, God. 1. In polytheistic sense, a god or deity: Act.28:6, 1Co.8:4, 2Th.2:4, al.; pl., Ac. 14:11 19:26, Gal.4:8, al. 2. Of the one true God; …

wisdomσοφίανsophianG4678
wisdom

σοφία (sophia) σοφία, -ας, ἡ [in LXX chiefly for חׇכְמָה ;] skill, intelligence, wisdom, ranging from knowledge of the arts and matters of daily life to mental excellence in its highest and fullest sense; (a) of human wisdom: 1Co.2:1 2:4-5, Jas.3:15, Rev.13:18 17:9; σ. Σολομῶνος, Mat.12:42, Luk.11:31; Αἰγυπτίων, Act.7:22; Ἕλληνες σ. ζητοῦσιν, 1Co.1:22; σ. λόγου, 1Co.1:17; τ. σοφῶν, 1Co.1:19 (LXX); τ. κόσμου, 1Co.1:20-21 3:19; ἀνθρωπίνη, 1Co.2:13; σαρκική, 2Co.1:12; …

worldκόσμουkosmouG2889
world

κόσμος (kosmos) κόσμος, -ου, ὁ [in LXX: Gen.2:1, Deu.4:19 17:3, Isa.24:21 40:26 (צבא), Exo.33:5, 6 Jer.2:32 4:30, Eze.7:20 16:11 23:40 (עֲדִי), Isa.61:10 (כְּלִי), al., Wis.2:24 and freq., Sir.6:30, al ;] 1. order (Hom., Plat., al.). 2. ornament, adornment, esp. of women (Hom., al.): 1Pe.3:3. 3. Later, the world or universe, as an ordered system (Plat., al.): Act.17:24, Rom.4:13, 1Co.3:22, Php.2:15, Heb.4:3, al. 4. In late writers only, the world, i.e. the earth (= ἡ οἰκουμένη, cf. Mat.4:8 with Luk.4:5): Mat.4:8, Mrk.16:[15], Col.2:20, 1Ti.6:7, al.; hence by meton., …

this?τούτου;toutouG3778
this/he/she/it

οὗτος (ohutos) οὗτος, αὕτη, τοῦτο, genitive, τούτου, ταύτης, τούτου, [in LXX chiefly for זֹאת ,זֶה ;] demonstr. pron. (related to ἐκεῖνος as hic to ille), this; 1. as subst., this one, he; (a) absol.: Mat.3:17, Mrk.9:7, Luk.7:44, 45, Jhn.1:15, Act.2:15, al.; expressing contempt (cl.), Mat.13:55, 56, Mrk.6:2, 3, Jhn.6:42, al.; εἰς τοῦτο, Mrk.1:38, Rom.14:9; μετὰ τοῦτο (ταῦτα; V. Westc. on Jhn.5:1), Jhn.2:12 11:7, al.; (b) epanaleptic (referring to what precedes): Mat.5:19, Mrk.3:35, Luk.9:48, Jhn.6:46, Rom.7:10, al.; …

Words and meanings from STEPBible data (Tyndale House, Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). The capitalized syllable is the stressed one.