Hi Donna, 1 Corinthians 1:17-29 shows the Apostle Paul's understanding of wisdom & foolishness as seen in the preaching of the Gospel. He first declares that his preaching was not given by using the "wisdom of words" (v17), even as he referred to it in 1 Corinthians 2:1-5. That is, his preaching used none of the oratory skills & flowery language of those false teachers who came into the Corinthian Church thereby enticing them into error using such language. Paul's speech was simple, direct & proclaimed Jesus Christ & His Cross in all its worth & fullness.
Then in verse 18, Paul writes about the "foolishness" of the Gospel to the World. What we consider as both precious & powerful, the World thinks of the Gospel as stupidity (both nonsensical & irrelevant). But to "us which are saved", or more correctly, "to us who are being saved, it is the Power of God". What we too might have thought of being irrelevant suddenly becomes a wonderful Truth, a Glorious Liberty & a Powerhouse to live life to the fullest for the Lord.
And then in verse 21, Paul writes about the "foolishness of preaching". As the Jews seek after signs & miracles; as the Greeks seek after human wisdom, philosopy & oratory skills - then where does the work of preaching fit in amongst that lot? Even though the apostles' simple preaching seemed weak & mundane in comparison, God had chosen that in such simplicity (foolishness), His Word would go out & hearts would be changed by the Gospel & not by emotion-charged rhetoric & acts.
So to answer your question about verse 20, "the World's wisdom that God calls foolishness": it is anything that emanates from man's knowledge or from his power of reason that dares to nullify God's Wisdom in providing Himself a Solution for mankind's incurable disease called, Sin. Even with his powers of speech, perceived understanding of all things & reasoning powers, man ever remains unable to deal with sin, to which only God can & that through the "foolishness of preaching".
Hello, I think this is up for interpretation, but my opinion is that today we have many so called 'experts' in the media telling people to do all kinds of things and claiming its for science or to save lives or to accomplish some desired outcome. However, much of it is not based on truth, but false assumptions. There's so much foolishness in this world.
For instance, the lab-made corona virus spreading was made worse by governor mandates. The #1 threat of getting a cold or flu virus is that you get a weakened immune system and get something else- like bacterial pneumonia. But it's not easy to get it, you have to actually inhale bacteria and how can someone actually do that? By having bacteria close to your nose and mouth. And why would anyone in their right mind keep bacteria close to their face and how would that even happen? By reusing a mask. That's right, the mask itself causes pneumonia. How many thousands of died because of foolishness?
Also locking people at home in a confined area with sick people also increased the spread, instead of allowing people to be outside in fresh air. Closing parks, trails, etc, all foolishness. Closing small businesses so they fail, while keeping big businesses open = foolishness. Stopping planned surgeries, visits, etc. How many people have died because they weren't allowed in a hospital, and how many committed suicide because of this. Then rewarding medical professionals with government funding if they call everything covid. So, all flu and pneumonia were called covid deaths, instead of what they were. So, they made more money, boosted the numbers, and the media loved it, since it pushed the narrative to scare everyone. Then an FDA approved HCQ drug safely used for 60+ years with 100% positive results of early use was demonized, which would have saved lives. Instead they banned it and pushed an experimental injection that have so far killed more than 4,000 people. This is also underreported. Foolish.
Hi brother Adam, even how our time is used up in worrying about the world this and the world that, the media this and the media that, seems to me to fall in this category. Jesus says feed his sheep which is not debatable and certainly wisdom from above.
Then in verse 18, Paul writes about the "foolishness" of the Gospel to the World. What we consider as both precious & powerful, the World thinks of the Gospel as stupidity (both nonsensical & irrelevant). But to "us which are saved", or more correctly, "to us who are being saved, it is the Power of God". What we too might have thought of being irrelevant suddenly becomes a wonderful Truth, a Glorious Liberty & a Powerhouse to live life to the fullest for the Lord.
And then in verse 21, Paul writes about the "foolishness of preaching". As the Jews seek after signs & miracles; as the Greeks seek after human wisdom, philosopy & oratory skills - then where does the work of preaching fit in amongst that lot? Even though the apostles' simple preaching seemed weak & mundane in comparison, God had chosen that in such simplicity (foolishness), His Word would go out & hearts would be changed by the Gospel & not by emotion-charged rhetoric & acts.
So to answer your question about verse 20, "the World's wisdom that God calls foolishness": it is anything that emanates from man's knowledge or from his power of reason that dares to nullify God's Wisdom in providing Himself a Solution for mankind's incurable disease called, Sin. Even with his powers of speech, perceived understanding of all things & reasoning powers, man ever remains unable to deal with sin, to which only God can & that through the "foolishness of preaching".
For instance, the lab-made corona virus spreading was made worse by governor mandates. The #1 threat of getting a cold or flu virus is that you get a weakened immune system and get something else- like bacterial pneumonia. But it's not easy to get it, you have to actually inhale bacteria and how can someone actually do that? By having bacteria close to your nose and mouth. And why would anyone in their right mind keep bacteria close to their face and how would that even happen? By reusing a mask. That's right, the mask itself causes pneumonia. How many thousands of died because of foolishness?
Also locking people at home in a confined area with sick people also increased the spread, instead of allowing people to be outside in fresh air. Closing parks, trails, etc, all foolishness. Closing small businesses so they fail, while keeping big businesses open = foolishness. Stopping planned surgeries, visits, etc. How many people have died because they weren't allowed in a hospital, and how many committed suicide because of this. Then rewarding medical professionals with government funding if they call everything covid. So, all flu and pneumonia were called covid deaths, instead of what they were. So, they made more money, boosted the numbers, and the media loved it, since it pushed the narrative to scare everyone. Then an FDA approved HCQ drug safely used for 60+ years with 100% positive results of early use was demonized, which would have saved lives. Instead they banned it and pushed an experimental injection that have so far killed more than 4,000 people. This is also underreported. Foolish.
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