1 Corinthians 3:19

KJV

For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.

KJV (with Strong's)

For {G1063} the wisdom {G4678} of this {G5127} world {G2889} is {G2076} foolishness {G3472} with {G3844} God {G2316}. For {G1063} it is written {G1125}, He taketh {G1405} the wise {G4680} in {G1722} their own {G846} craftiness {G3834}.

Complete Jewish Bible

For the wisdom of this world is nonsense, as far as God is concerned; inasmuch as the Tanakh says, “He traps the wise in their own cleverness,”

Berean Standard Bible

For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness.”

American Standard Version

For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He that taketh the wise in their craftiness:

Commentary

### SUMMARY
First Corinthians 3:19 profoundly declares that what humanity esteems as wisdom is utterly foolish in the sight of God, underscoring a radical inversion of values between the divine and the worldly. Paul supports this assertion by quoting an ancient proverb, revealing that God actively thwarts and ensnares those who rely on their own cunning intellect, turning their very cleverness into their downfall. This verse serves as a foundational statement on the nature of true wisdom, emphasizing humility and reliance on God over human intellectual pride.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is a pivotal statement within Paul's broader argument in [1 Corinthians chapters 1-4](/1_corinthians/1-4 "1 Corinthians 1-4 - Divisions and Wisdom"). Paul is addressing severe divisions within the Corinthian church, which were largely fueled by an over-reliance on human wisdom, rhetorical skill, and allegiance to prominent leaders (like Paul, Apollos, or Cephas). He has just urged believers to "become a fool" in the world's eyes to become truly wise in God's eyes ([1 Corinthians 3:18](/1_corinthians/3-18 "1 Corinthians 3:18 - Become a Fool to Be Wise")). Verse 19 provides the theological justification for this counter-intuitive command, explaining *why* worldly wisdom is antithetical to divine wisdom and *how* God deals with human arrogance. It functions as a concluding thought to his immediate argument about the futility of human wisdom in the spiritual realm.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Corinth was a bustling, cosmopolitan city renowned for its intellectual and philosophical pursuits. Greek culture, particularly its emphasis on rhetoric, sophistry, and philosophical debate, heavily influenced the Corinthians. Many believers, perhaps recent converts from paganism, brought these cultural values into the church, leading to a competitive spirit where leaders were judged by their eloquence and followers aligned themselves with specific teachers based on their perceived intellectual superiority. Paul's letter challenges this deeply ingrained cultural mindset, asserting that the Gospel's power does not lie in persuasive words of human wisdom but in the demonstration of the Spirit and of power ([1 Corinthians 2:4](/1_corinthians/2-4 "1 Corinthians 2:4 - Power in the Spirit, Not Eloquence")). The quotation from the Old Testament further grounds his argument in a long-standing biblical tradition of God's opposition to human pride.
* **Key Themes:** The overarching theme is the **contrast between divine wisdom and worldly wisdom**. Paul consistently argues that what the world considers wise—eloquence, philosophical depth, strategic cunning—is fundamentally at odds with God's perspective and plan, which often appears "foolish" to human eyes, such as the message of the cross ([1 Corinthians 1:18](/1_corinthians/1-18 "1 Corinthians 1:18 - The Foolishness of the Cross")). This leads to the theme of **God's sovereignty and the humiliation of human pride**. God actively intervenes to frustrate human schemes, demonstrating His ultimate control and His opposition to self-exaltation. The verse also implicitly calls for **humility and dependence on God**, urging believers to abandon self-reliance and embrace a posture of spiritual receptivity to God's truth, which is revealed by the Spirit ([1 Corinthians 2:10](/1_corinthians/2-10 "1 Corinthians 2:10 - Spirit Reveals Deep Things of God")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Wisdom (Greek, _sophía_):** This term (G4678) refers broadly to sagacity, knowledge, or skill, whether human or divine. In this context, "wisdom of this world" denotes human intellectual prowess, philosophical systems, rhetorical skill, and strategic cunning that operates independently of or in opposition to God. It encompasses the worldly criteria by which people judge intelligence and effectiveness, often leading to pride and self-sufficiency.
* **Foolishness (Greek, _mōría_):** Derived from the root of "moron," this word (G3472) signifies silliness, absurdity, or utter nonsense. Paul uses it to describe God's radical assessment of worldly wisdom. What the world considers intelligent, God declares to be utterly devoid of true value or insight, demonstrating a complete inversion of human and divine perspectives.
* **Craftiness (Greek, _panourgía_):** This term (G3834) denotes adroitness, but specifically in a negative sense, implying cunning, trickery, or unscrupulous cleverness. It suggests a manipulative or deceitful ingenuity, often employed to achieve self-serving ends. The word highlights that worldly wisdom is not merely mistaken but can be actively deceptive and self-serving, leading to its own undoing by God.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God."**: This opening clause establishes a profound theological antithesis. Paul asserts that human intellectual achievements, philosophical systems, and worldly strategies, when viewed from God's eternal and omniscient perspective, are not merely inadequate but are utterly nonsensical and absurd. This is not to say that all human knowledge is inherently bad, but that wisdom derived from purely human reasoning, apart from divine revelation and humility, fails to grasp ultimate truth and spiritual reality. It is a radical re-evaluation of what truly constitutes "wisdom."
* **"For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness."**: This second clause provides scriptural proof for the preceding statement, quoting [Job 5:13](/job/5-13 "Job 5:13 - God Traps the Crafty"). The phrase "it is written" (G1125, _gráphō_) signifies the divine authority of the Old Testament. God does not merely dismiss worldly wisdom; He actively intervenes to expose and frustrate it. The verb "taketh" (G1405, _drássomai_) implies grasping or entrapping. God ensnares the cunning in their own schemes, turning their manipulative cleverness back upon themselves. This demonstrates God's sovereignty over human affairs and His active opposition to pride and self-reliance, ensuring that human efforts to circumvent Him ultimately fail.

#### Literary Devices
Paul employs several powerful literary devices in this verse. The most prominent is **Antithesis**, starkly contrasting "the wisdom of this world" with "foolishness with God." This creates a dramatic tension and highlights the radical difference between human and divine perspectives. There is also profound **Irony** at play: those who consider themselves wise are precisely the ones God "takes" or entraps, and they are caught in their "own craftiness." Their very ingenuity becomes their undoing. Finally, Paul uses **Allusion** (specifically a direct **Quotation**) from the Old Testament ([Job 5:13](/job/5-13 "Job 5:13 - God Traps the Crafty")), lending ancient scriptural authority and weight to his contemporary argument. This quotation serves as a powerful reminder that God's opposition to human pride and self-sufficiency is a timeless principle.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This verse is a cornerstone of Paul's theology of wisdom, asserting God's absolute supremacy over human intellect and His active role in humbling the proud. It underscores the biblical principle that true wisdom begins with the fear of the Lord and a humble submission to His ways, rather than reliance on human ingenuity or philosophical systems. The cross, which appears as foolishness to the world, is God's ultimate demonstration of wisdom and power, confounding the wise and saving those who believe. This divine inversion of values challenges believers to re-evaluate their sources of truth and guidance, prioritizing God's revelation over worldly acclaim or intellectual sophistication.

* [Job 5:13](/job/5-13 "Job 5:13 - God Traps the Crafty")
* [Psalm 33:10](/psalms/33-10 "Psalm 33:10 - The Lord Frustrates the Plans of Nations")
* [Romans 1:22](/romans/1-22 "Romans 1:22 - Claiming to be Wise, They Became Fools")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
First Corinthians 3:19 calls believers to a radical reorientation of their values, especially concerning what constitutes true wisdom. In a world that often glorifies intellectual achievement, strategic cunning, and self-reliance, Paul reminds us that God's standards are entirely different. We are challenged to discern carefully the influences shaping our thinking and decision-making, ensuring that we are not subtly adopting the "wisdom of this world" in our spiritual lives, our churches, or our personal pursuits. True wisdom is not found in conforming to worldly patterns or philosophies but in a humble, Spirit-led reliance on God's Word and His paradoxical ways. This verse encourages us to embrace the "foolishness" of the Gospel, trusting that God's seemingly illogical methods are ultimately the most profound and effective. It reminds us that our greatest strength lies not in our own intellect or cleverness, but in our complete dependence on the infinite wisdom of God.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of my life or ministry do I tend to rely more on worldly wisdom or my own cleverness than on God's guidance?**
* **How might the "wisdom of this world" subtly influence my understanding of success, leadership, or problem-solving within the church or my personal life?**
* **What does it truly mean for me to "become a fool" in the world's eyes so that I may become wise in God's eyes?**
* **How can I cultivate a deeper humility and dependence on God's wisdom, especially when His ways seem counter-intuitive to human logic?**

### FAQ

**What does Paul mean by "the wisdom of this world"?**

Answer: By "the wisdom of this world," Paul refers to human intellectual systems, philosophical schools, rhetorical prowess, and strategic cunning that operate independently of or in opposition to God. It encompasses the prevailing cultural values and intellectual standards of the age, particularly those that prioritize human reason and self-sufficiency over divine revelation. In Corinth, this often manifested as an over-reliance on eloquent speech and philosophical debate, which led to pride and divisions within the church, as highlighted in [1 Corinthians 1:17-25](/1_corinthians/1-17-25 "1 Corinthians 1:17-25 - The Foolishness of the Cross").

**Why is worldly wisdom "foolishness with God"?**

Answer: Worldly wisdom is "foolishness with God" because it fails to grasp ultimate reality, which is found in God Himself. It operates from a limited, fallen perspective, often driven by human pride and a desire for self-glory. From God's infinite, holy, and omniscient viewpoint, human attempts to understand or control reality apart from Him are utterly absurd and futile. God's wisdom, exemplified in the seemingly weak and foolish message of the cross, is infinitely superior and ultimately triumphs over all human schemes, as seen throughout [1 Corinthians chapter 1](/1_corinthians/1 "1 Corinthians 1 - The Wisdom of God and the Foolishness of the Cross").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
First Corinthians 3:19 finds its ultimate Christ-centered fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ, who embodies God's true wisdom and perfectly demonstrates the "foolishness" of God that is wiser than men. The cross, the central event of Christian faith, is the epitome of this divine paradox. To the world, a crucified Messiah was a scandal and an absurdity—a sign of weakness and defeat. Yet, through this "foolish" act, God accomplished the salvation of humanity, confounding the wisdom of the wise and nullifying the understanding of the prudent ([1 Corinthians 1:20-25](/1_corinthians/1-20-25 "1 Corinthians 1:20-25 - God's Wisdom in the Cross")). Jesus, though appearing humble and vulnerable, was the very power and wisdom of God ([1 Corinthians 1:24](/1_corinthians/1-24 "1 Corinthians 1:24 - Christ, the Power and Wisdom of God")). His life, death, and resurrection perfectly illustrate how God "takes the wise in their own craftiness," as the religious and political leaders who conspired against Him ultimately fulfilled God's redemptive plan, unknowingly ensnared by their own schemes to eliminate Him ([Acts 4:27-28](/acts/4-27-28 "Acts 4:27-28 - God's Plan Fulfilled by Human Conspiracy")). Thus, Christ stands as the living embodiment of God's wisdom, inviting us to abandon worldly cleverness and find true wisdom and life in Him alone ([Colossians 2:3](/colossians/2-3 "Colossians 2:3 - In Christ Are All Treasures of Wisdom and Knowledge")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Job 5:13

He taketh the wise in their own craftiness: and the counsel of the froward is carried headlong.

Psalms 141:10

Let the wicked fall into their own nets, whilst that I withal escape.

1 Corinthians 1:19

For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.

1 Corinthians 1:20

Where [is] the wise? where [is] the scribe? where [is] the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?

Romans 1:21

Because that, when they knew God, they glorified [him] not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

Romans 1:22

Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,

Isaiah 44:25

That frustrateth the tokens of the liars, and maketh diviners mad; that turneth wise [men] backward, and maketh their knowledge foolish;