1 Corinthians 3:19
Verse
Context
God’s Temple and God’s Wisdom
18Let no one deceive himself. If any of you thinks he is wise in this age, he should become a fool, so that he may become wise. 19For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness.” 20And again, “The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile.”
Sermons
A.W. Tozer
Ray Comfort
G.W. North
D.L. Moody
Zac PoonenSummary
Commentary
- Adam Clarke
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
- John Gill
Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
The wisdom of this world - Whether it be the pretended deep and occult wisdom of the rabbins, or the wire-drawn speculations of the Grecian philosophers, is foolishness with God; for as folly consists in spending time, strength, and pains to no purpose, so these may be fitly termed fools who acquire no saving knowledge by their speculations. And is not this the case with the major part of all that is called philosophy, even in the present day? Has one soul been made wise unto salvation through it? Are our most eminent philosophers either pious or useful men? Who of them is meek, gentle, and humble! Who of them directs his researches so as to meliorate the moral condition of his fellow creatures? Pride, insolence, self-conceit, and complacency, with a general forgetfulness of God, contempt for his word, and despite for the poor, are their general characteristics. He taketh the wise in their own craftiness - This is a quotation from Job 5:13, and powerfully shows what the wisdom of this world is: it is a sort of craft, a subtle trade, which they carry on to wrong others and benefit themselves; and they have generally too much cunning to be caught by men; but God often overthrows them with their own devisings. Paganism raised up persecution against the Church of Christ, in order to destroy it: this became the very means of quickly spreading it over the earth, and of destroying the whole pagan system. Thus the wise were taken in their own craftiness.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
with God--in the judgment of God. it is written--in Job 5:13. The formula of quoting SCRIPTURE used here, establishes the canonicity of Job. He taketh . . . wise in . . . own craftiness--proving the "foolishness" of the world's wisdom, since it is made by God the very snare to catch those who think themselves so wise. Literally, "He who taketh . . . the whole of the sentence not being quoted, but only the part which suited Paul's purpose.
John Gill Bible Commentary
For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God,.... The wisdom of the Jewish, or Gentile world. It is had in no account with him; it is despised and neglected by him; he makes it foolish, destroys it, and brings it to nothing; he lays it aside as useless, to make men wise unto salvation, and by the foolishness of preaching saves them that believe; he passes by the wise and prudent, and hides the things of the Gospel from them; so, that, with all their learning and wisdom, they can neither apprehend nor comprehend the mysteries of grace, whilst he reveals them unto babes, and chooses the foolish things of this world to spread the knowledge of himself, his Son, his Gospel, and the truths of it, and whom he makes successful, to the confusion of the wise and learned. "For it is written", an usual form of citing Scriptures with the Jews; it is in Job 5:13 he taketh the wise in their own craftiness, or by it. What Eliphaz says of the wise politicians of the world, who are often disappointed of their crafty devices, and cannot perform the enterprises they have took in hand, but their schemes are broken, and the snares they laid for others they are taken in themselves, is applied by the apostle to the Jewish doctors, or the Gentile philosophers, or rather to the false teachers among the Christians; whose schemes they have formed to corrupt the churches, and demolish the Gospel, prove their own destruction; nor will they, with all their cunning, be able to get out of the hand of God, and escape his awful vengeance. The allusion is either to the taking of wild beasts and birds in snares and nets, or to the taking of men in flight, laying hold of them with the hand, and grasping them hard, that they cannot get loose. The Targum interprets the words of the wise men of Pharaoh, and of the Egyptian astrologers, schemes they have formed to corrupt the churches, and demolish the Gospel, prove their own destruction; nor will they, with all their cunning, be able to get out of the hand of God, and escape his awful vengeance. The allusion is either to the taking of wild beasts and birds in snares and nets, or to the taking of men in flight, laying hold of them with the hand, and grasping them hard, that they cannot get loose. The Targum interprets the words of the wise men of Pharaoh, and of the Egyptian astrologers.
1 Corinthians 3:19
God’s Temple and God’s Wisdom
18Let no one deceive himself. If any of you thinks he is wise in this age, he should become a fool, so that he may become wise. 19For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness.” 20And again, “The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile.”
- Scripture
- Sermons
- Commentary
He Is a Jealous Lover
By A.W. Tozer3.8K51:21Jealousy Of GodEXO 33:18MAT 5:48ACT 2:41CO 2:101CO 3:19PHP 3:15COL 1:27In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of being perfect and thinking in alignment with God's word. He mentions that those who reason differently will face consequences from God. The preacher also introduces the concept of three models: being forward and backward, doing God's will alone, and being a jealous lover of God. He talks about the need for a mighty outpouring of the Holy Spirit and a return to New Testament Christianity. The sermon concludes with a reminder that true worship and service to God do not require fancy equipment or gadgets, but rather a sincere heart and a willingness to pray.
The Ultimate Statistic
By Ray Comfort2.6K36:04EvangelismEXO 20:13EXO 20:17MAT 5:21MRK 16:15ACT 17:281CO 1:261CO 3:19In this sermon, the speaker shares a personal story about running a club for kids and distributing candy. He notices the greed and unfairness in the line and decides to give the candy to the meek and sickly ones instead. The speaker then uses the analogy of a man trying to fly and suffering the consequences of transgressing the law of gravity to explain that God's law is the law of sin and death. He emphasizes that the soul that sins shall die because we have all transgressed God's law. The speaker also compares God's law to a mirror that reflects our true selves and asks the audience if they have ever lied or sinned. He encourages them to open their hearts to the Gospel and highlights that they have nothing to lose and everything to gain.
The Wisdom of Love
By G.W. North0WisdomLovePRO 3:13PRO 4:71CO 1:301CO 2:61CO 3:191CO 12:71CO 13:1EPH 1:17COL 2:3JAS 1:5G.W. North emphasizes the significance of the Spirit's gift of wisdom, noting that it is the first manifestation of the Spirit within the body of Christ. He reflects on the church at Corinth, which, despite being baptized in the Spirit, had fallen into folly due to a lack of love, which he identifies as a greater sin than the absence of wisdom. North highlights Paul's urgent message to the Corinthians, where he repeatedly addresses the importance of wisdom and love, underscoring that true wisdom is rooted in love. He concludes that while folly is a concern, the absence of love is a grave sin against God. Ultimately, Christ embodies this wisdom, which is paramount for believers.
Preserving the Church From Satan's Agents
By Zac Poonen0Spiritual WarfareChurch UnityPSA 127:1PSA 133:1ZEP 3:11MAT 16:18MAT 18:17ROM 16:171CO 3:192CO 2:11JUD 1:4Zac Poonen emphasizes the church's role in resisting Satan's agents, highlighting that true churches, built by Jesus, overpower the gates of hell and must remain vigilant against spiritual death manifested through jealousy, strife, and immorality. He warns against allowing carnal believers to hold positions of influence, as they can disrupt the unity and purity of the church. Poonen illustrates how God sometimes allows infiltrators to expose and cleanse the church, ensuring that only humble and lowly individuals remain. He stresses the importance of addressing sin within the church with the goal of restoration, rather than exclusion, and encourages believers to pray for unity and purity. Ultimately, the church must be a place of refuge and life, where the Holy Spirit works to maintain its integrity against Satan's schemes.
The Fear of the Lord
By D.L. Moody0Fear Of The LordTrue KnowledgePSA 14:1PRO 1:7PRO 9:10ROM 1:211CO 3:19D.L. Moody emphasizes that the fear of the Lord is foundational to true knowledge, asserting that without trust in God, one's understanding is incomplete and flawed. He warns that even those who achieve great knowledge in science are ultimately ignorant if they turn their hearts away from God. Moody highlights that claiming there is no God is foolishness, regardless of one's worldly wisdom or accolades.
Do Not Adulterate the Word of God
By Zac Poonen0PSA 1:5PRO 11:3MAT 16:23JHN 7:381CO 3:192CO 4:2JAS 4:10Zac Poonen emphasizes the importance of renouncing craftiness, dishonesty, and hidden sins in our lives to truly experience God's rest and be useful members in the body of Christ. He warns against compromising God's standards to please others or twisting Scripture to fit personal beliefs, highlighting the need for honesty and humility in interpreting and applying God's Word.
Christian Fellowship--Amusements--Walking in Darkness
By John Newton0ISA 55:1JER 2:13ACT 17:111CO 3:19COL 2:8John Newton reflects on his struggles with spiritual dryness and dependence on the Lord, acknowledging his tendency to seek fulfillment in earthly relationships rather than in communion with God. He contrasts the temporary amusements of the world with the eternal treasures found in God's wisdom and love, emphasizing the futility of trusting in man-made creations over the truths of Scripture. Newton encourages discernment and humility in evaluating teachings, reminding believers to prioritize the Word of God above all human wisdom.
God the Great Teacher and Leader of His People
By J.C. Philpot0PSA 25:4PSA 77:19PSA 81:10ISA 48:17MAT 11:25ROM 8:14ROM 8:321CO 3:19J.C. Philpot preaches about the essence of true religion, emphasizing the vital and immediate connection it establishes between the soul and God, contrasting it with false religion that creates distance from Him. Through Psalms and other Scriptures, the longing of believers to draw near to God, receive His mercy, and experience His favor is highlighted, showcasing how true religion brings believers into close contact with God. Philpot delves into the Psalmist's plea to God to show His ways, teach His paths, and lead in truth, emphasizing the necessity of divine teaching to understand and walk in God's wisdom, mercy, and faithfulness.
- Adam Clarke
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
- John Gill
Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
The wisdom of this world - Whether it be the pretended deep and occult wisdom of the rabbins, or the wire-drawn speculations of the Grecian philosophers, is foolishness with God; for as folly consists in spending time, strength, and pains to no purpose, so these may be fitly termed fools who acquire no saving knowledge by their speculations. And is not this the case with the major part of all that is called philosophy, even in the present day? Has one soul been made wise unto salvation through it? Are our most eminent philosophers either pious or useful men? Who of them is meek, gentle, and humble! Who of them directs his researches so as to meliorate the moral condition of his fellow creatures? Pride, insolence, self-conceit, and complacency, with a general forgetfulness of God, contempt for his word, and despite for the poor, are their general characteristics. He taketh the wise in their own craftiness - This is a quotation from Job 5:13, and powerfully shows what the wisdom of this world is: it is a sort of craft, a subtle trade, which they carry on to wrong others and benefit themselves; and they have generally too much cunning to be caught by men; but God often overthrows them with their own devisings. Paganism raised up persecution against the Church of Christ, in order to destroy it: this became the very means of quickly spreading it over the earth, and of destroying the whole pagan system. Thus the wise were taken in their own craftiness.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
with God--in the judgment of God. it is written--in Job 5:13. The formula of quoting SCRIPTURE used here, establishes the canonicity of Job. He taketh . . . wise in . . . own craftiness--proving the "foolishness" of the world's wisdom, since it is made by God the very snare to catch those who think themselves so wise. Literally, "He who taketh . . . the whole of the sentence not being quoted, but only the part which suited Paul's purpose.
John Gill Bible Commentary
For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God,.... The wisdom of the Jewish, or Gentile world. It is had in no account with him; it is despised and neglected by him; he makes it foolish, destroys it, and brings it to nothing; he lays it aside as useless, to make men wise unto salvation, and by the foolishness of preaching saves them that believe; he passes by the wise and prudent, and hides the things of the Gospel from them; so, that, with all their learning and wisdom, they can neither apprehend nor comprehend the mysteries of grace, whilst he reveals them unto babes, and chooses the foolish things of this world to spread the knowledge of himself, his Son, his Gospel, and the truths of it, and whom he makes successful, to the confusion of the wise and learned. "For it is written", an usual form of citing Scriptures with the Jews; it is in Job 5:13 he taketh the wise in their own craftiness, or by it. What Eliphaz says of the wise politicians of the world, who are often disappointed of their crafty devices, and cannot perform the enterprises they have took in hand, but their schemes are broken, and the snares they laid for others they are taken in themselves, is applied by the apostle to the Jewish doctors, or the Gentile philosophers, or rather to the false teachers among the Christians; whose schemes they have formed to corrupt the churches, and demolish the Gospel, prove their own destruction; nor will they, with all their cunning, be able to get out of the hand of God, and escape his awful vengeance. The allusion is either to the taking of wild beasts and birds in snares and nets, or to the taking of men in flight, laying hold of them with the hand, and grasping them hard, that they cannot get loose. The Targum interprets the words of the wise men of Pharaoh, and of the Egyptian astrologers, schemes they have formed to corrupt the churches, and demolish the Gospel, prove their own destruction; nor will they, with all their cunning, be able to get out of the hand of God, and escape his awful vengeance. The allusion is either to the taking of wild beasts and birds in snares and nets, or to the taking of men in flight, laying hold of them with the hand, and grasping them hard, that they cannot get loose. The Targum interprets the words of the wise men of Pharaoh, and of the Egyptian astrologers.