Yes — the main theme is wisdom.
In the opening chapters of 1 Corinthians, Paul repeatedly sets man's wisdom against God's wisdom. Christ crucified is the center of that message, and believers gain God's wisdom through what the world calls foolishness.
1 Corinthians 1:24 — Shows that Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God to those who are called.
1 Corinthians 1:25 — Declares that God's apparent foolishness is wiser than men and His weakness stronger than men.
1 Corinthians 3:19 — Turns the wisdom of the world into foolishness with God.
In 1 Corinthians 1:24 Paul writes, "But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God." Verse 25 continues, "Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men." In 1 Corinthians 2:7, Paul speaks of "the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory." Then in 1 Corinthians 3:19 he concludes, "For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God." The theme is not human intellectual achievement but the divine wisdom revealed through the gospel.
Les Feldick teaches that throughout the early chapters of 1 Corinthians, Paul is constantly bringing up the word "wisdom" in comparison of man's wisdom with God's wisdom (Clip 1). Paul did not come to Corinth with excellency of speech or human wisdom; he determined not to know anything among them save Jesus Christ and Him crucified (Clip 3). Les explains that the wisdom of this world—all the great philosophy, literature, and art—is foolishness with God, and it is through the foolish Gospel that God pours out His wisdom and power on believers (Clip 2). The theme culminates in the fact that believers are "fools for Christ's sake" from the world's perspective (Clip 6).
In the early chapters of 1 Corinthians, Paul uses wisdom as a recurring word, contrasting man's wisdom with God's wisdom. Scripture says Christ is made unto believers wisdom from God (1 Corinthians 1:24), and what the world considers God's foolishness is actually wiser than men (1 Corinthians 1:25). Les Feldick points out that Paul was constantly bringing up wisdom in these early chapters (Clip 1).
Paul did not come to Corinth with the excellency of speech or wisdom that the Greek philosophers used in the town square. He deliberately determined not to know anything among them except Jesus Christ and Him crucified (Clip 3). Les highlights that Paul had been in Athens, the very seat of philosophical thinking, where the philosophers called him a babbler—yet in reality their philosophy was the babble, while Paul spoke the wisdom of God (Clip 7).
Les teaches that the wisdom of this world—great philosophy, literature, and works of art—is foolishness with God. That truth is stated directly in 1 Corinthians 3:19. The way to gain God's wisdom is to go to what the world considers foolishness: the Gospel. As Les puts it, through that "foolishness" the power of God and His wisdom are poured out on believers (Clip 2).
Paul refused to come with signs, wonders, or philosophy; he preached Christ crucified (Clip 0). This is the center of God's wisdom. Les also points to the hidden wisdom of God which none of the princes of this world knew—had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory (1 Corinthians 2:7-8; Clip 5).
Christ Crucified Preached
Les explains that Paul did not rely on signs or philosophy but preached Christ crucified, which is the foundation of God's wisdom in 1 Corinthians.
Wisdom Repeatedly Mentioned
Les explicitly says that Paul constantly brings up the word wisdom in the early chapters of 1 Corinthians, comparing man's wisdom to God's wisdom.
World's Wisdom Is Foolishness
Les teaches that the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God, and believers gain God's wisdom by going to what the world considers foolish: the Gospel.
Paul Rejected Human Wisdom
Les shows that Paul deliberately came to Corinth without excellent speech or wisdom, knowing nothing among them except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.
Christ Is God's Wisdom
Les reads 1 Corinthians 1:24-25, showing that to those who are called Christ is the wisdom and power of God, and God's foolishness is wiser than men.
The Hidden Wisdom of God
Les connects the wisdom theme to the hidden wisdom of God which the princes of this world did not know, otherwise they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
Fools for Christ's Sake
Les notes that from the world's perspective believers are fools for Christ's sake, which ties back to the foolishness of the cross.
Athens Philosophy Compared to Babble
Les contrasts the Athenian philosophers who called Paul a babbler with the true wisdom of Scripture, showing the world's thinkers are babble compared to God's Word.
1 Corinthians 1:24: But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.
This verse directly identifies Christ as the wisdom of God, establishing the main theme of 1 Corinthians.
1 Corinthians 1:25: Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
This verse contrasts God's ways with human strength and wisdom, showing that God's foolishness surpasses men.
1 Corinthians 2:7: But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:
Paul reveals that the wisdom he preaches is God's hidden wisdom, central to the Corinthians' understanding.
1 Corinthians 2:8: Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
This verse shows that human rulers did not recognize God's wisdom, leading to the crucifixion of Christ.
1 Corinthians 3:19: For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.
This is a direct statement that earthly wisdom is foolishness to God, key to understanding the theme.
1 Corinthians 4:10: We are fools for Christ's sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye are honourable, but we are despised.
This verse illustrates how the world views believers and ties back to the contrast between man's wisdom and God's wisdom.
Yes. In the early chapters of 1 Corinthians, Paul repeatedly contrasts man's wisdom with God's wisdom. Les Feldick confirms that Paul is constantly bringing up the word wisdom in these chapters.
Les teaches that the wisdom of this world—its great philosophy, literature, and art—is foolishness with God. The way believers receive God's wisdom is through the Gospel, which the world considers foolishness.
Paul did not come to Corinth with human wisdom or philosophy but determined to know nothing among them except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. Les points out that this message is the center of God's wisdom in 1 Corinthians.
Watch the Teaching: Why the Cross Is Foolishness to the World — 1 Corinthians 1:18-25