1 Corinthians chapter 1

vs 21

Ok, I've read this verse a dozen times. Here's what I think it is saying. The reason people can't know God through their worldly wisdom is because God (in his wisdom) chose not to reveal himself that way. Rather, God decided to make a saving knowledge of himself known through a method which, in the world's wisdom, is utterly foolish rather than utterly wise.

Now you might say "Yeah, of course that's what it means". But the sticking point for me is the very beginning - the bit about God's wisdom and the world's wisdom.

vs 22

The AiG people (I don't know what they're called now) use this verse when pushing the evangelistic side of their stuff. Their argument is that while we are preaching from the gospels all about Jesus' miracles and how they prove he's the Son of God (which would convince Jews), the gentiles actually want wisdom, and so that's why they do all this creation science stuff.

The problem is, it's a classic verse taken out of context! Yes, Paul is saying that different people are looking for different things in their own understanding of God. But...

vs 23

Paul does neither! Not only is the gospel of Christ crucified not compatible with what these groups are looking for, but it actually places a stumbling block in front of Jews (because you're telling them that when their Messiah came he didn't come in glory, and that even though he was God, God died for them), and foolishness to the gentiles (because why would God sacrifice his son for us, and then give us eternal life freely?).

vs 24

But it's not that to everyone. To Christians, and to those God has called as Christians, it means that Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God. There are those out there who are just waiting to hear the gospel, and they click and go "That's it. That's what I've been waiting to hear". And there are ones who say "I don't believe it" but eventually they are convicted by its truth. But not because of miracles, and not because of its wisdom.

vs 25

The dumbest, most foolish thing that God does is still smarter than anything we could possibly do. And the weakest thing he ever does is stronger than the strongest thing we can possibly do. It's one of those characteristics that makes him God. And it just goes to show that we shouldn't call things God does "weak" or "dumb".

vs 26

And this is the story of the whole world's conversions. There are some rich, powerful, influential people who are won to Christ, and when they are we tend to say "Yeah, woo! More resources for the church".
But it is far more common that it is the poor, the needy, the marginalised, the left behind, who are the ones who respond to the gospel.

vs 27

And why? Because not only is God's weakest and most foolish better than our wisest and strongest, but he actually shames our strength and wisdom by choosing the foolish and weak. In doing this, he says "See how wise you people are? See how strong? How influential, how rich your blood is? Didn't get you into a relationship with me though, did it? And yet even these poor, dumb gutter dwellers know God you idiots!"

vs 28

His choosing of the poor and despised nullifies our earthly riches and wisdom. It says "No matter how rich, or how wise you can get on this earth, this poor stupid person made the right decision, and you made the wrong one. Their decision will bring them life and eternal riches, and you, well, you'll be dead in a year".

vs 29

But the poor person can't then boast "Oh yeah, I so chose correctly. Yay me!" because it was God who revealed to that person the foolishness of his salvation.

vs 30

Christ has become our wisdom, and so we can't claim that it was our own doing. And the wisdom of God, which people think is foolishness, it is our righteousness, our holiness and our redemption. So it is our position or rightness before God, it is our separation from mundane things for God, and the price paid for our release to God. Those all sound like great, very wise things to have, don't they? But who would expect that you would get them through Christ and his crucifixion?

vs 31

We can boast about God all day long - it's not really boasting when God has all the power and gets all the glory. He's the only one who can boast, and who deserves us boasting about him.