Yes — the Bible calls the wisdom of this world foolishness to God because it never brings anyone to know Him, and God instead saves through the preaching of the cross.
Scripture says the world by wisdom did not know God, so God made foolish the wisdom of this world and chose to save believers through what the world calls foolish preaching. Les Feldick teaches that human intellect and sophistication cannot compare to the power and wisdom of God released in the gospel.
1 Corinthians 1:20 — Paul asks where the wise, scribe, and disputer are, and declares God has made foolish the wisdom of this world.
1 Corinthians 3:19 — This verse states plainly that the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God.
Romans 1:22 — Those who claimed to be wise became fools — the devastating outcome of rejecting God.
Paul's question exposes the emptiness of human wisdom: "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?" (1 Corinthians 1:20). The Bible's verdict is direct: "For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God" (1 Corinthians 3:19). The reason is also stated: "For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe" (1 Corinthians 1:21). Human philosophy never led the world to know the Creator God. To the perishing, the preaching of the cross is foolishness, but to those being saved it is the power of God (1 Corinthians 1:18). He that seems wise in this world is told to become a fool so he may be wise (1 Corinthians 3:18), and those who professed themselves wise became fools (Romans 1:22).
Les Feldick explains that the main theme of 1 Corinthians is the wisdom of God set apart from the wisdom of men. No amount of earthly wisdom makes a person something God can use; only wisdom from God does. The world may look at God's offer of salvation and think He is foolish, but God's foolishness is wiser than men. Les points to the cross as the dividing line: the world calls the preaching of the cross foolishness, but to believers it is the power of God. He teaches that God is pleased to save those who believe the gospel plus nothing, because good works done in the energy of the flesh do not carry God's power. He also warns against self-deception — what looks wise or attractive, even impressive advertising, may be the worst thing a person could do.
Paul writes, "For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe" (1 Corinthians 1:21). Les Feldick points to the Athenian philosophers and says they knew nothing of the Creator God. Paul asks, "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?" (1 Corinthians 1:20), and Romans 1:22 says of those who rejected Him, "Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools."
Paul states plainly, "For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God" (1 Corinthians 1:18). Les explains that to the Greeks, with all their high-level intellectual philosophy, the idea that this humble carpenter from Nazareth accomplished salvation seemed like foolishness. Yet to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God (1 Corinthians 1:24).
Paul warns, "Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise" (1 Corinthians 3:18). Les applies this to everyday life, noting that Madison Avenue advertisers can make anything look like a great deal, yet it may be the worst thing a person could do. He teaches that God saves through the foolishness of preaching — those who believe, plus nothing — and that good works done in the flesh do not carry the power of God.
Les describes so-called brilliant, intellectual, robed men who think of themselves as wise and hold great power, yet come out with decisions that are as idiotic as a first grader. The reason, he says, is that they have rejected what God has said, and consequently they act and respond as fools. Scripture says, "Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools" (Romans 1:22), changing the glory of the uncorruptible God into images made like corruptible man and beasts (Romans 1:23).
Warning Against Self-Deception
What appears wise or attractive to the world may actually be the worst thing a person can do, so the first step toward true wisdom is to stop being deceived and become a fool in the world's eyes.
Wisdom of God vs Wisdom of Men
Earthly wisdom does not make a person useful to God; only God's wisdom does, and the world thinks God is foolish when He claims to save the worst sinner.
God Destroys the Wisdom of the Wise
God has made foolish the wisdom of this world and has promised to destroy the wisdom of the wise and bring the understanding of the prudent to nothing.
Christ Crucified Is Foolishness to Greeks
The Greeks with their high-level intellectual philosophy saw the cross as foolishness, yet for called Jews and Greeks, Christ crucified is God's power and wisdom.
Cross Is the Power of God
The world may think the preaching of the cross is foolishness, but to the saved it is the power of God, released when we believe Christ died, shed His blood, was buried, and rose again.
Saved by Belief Plus Nothing
The world by wisdom did not know God, but God saves those who believe the gospel plus nothing; good works done in the flesh do not carry God's power.
God Made Worldly Wisdom Foolish
Paul confronts the Greek philosophers head-on, asking where the wise and disputers are, because God has made the wisdom of this world foolish.
Intellectuals Who Reject God
People may be brilliant and powerful in the world's eyes, but if they reject God's Word, they act and respond as fools and exchange God's glory for idols.
1 Corinthians 1:18: For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
This sets up the contrast between how the world sees the cross and how believers experience it.
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.
God explicitly promises to destroy human wisdom.
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?
This is the Bible's direct declaration that God made the world's wisdom foolish.
1 Corinthians 1:21: For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.
The world's wisdom failed to bring anyone to God, so salvation comes through believing the preached gospel.
1 Corinthians 1:23: But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;
The message of a crucified Christ is the specific thing the world regards as foolish.
1 Corinthians 1:24: But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.
For the called, the same Christ is both God's power and God's wisdom.
1 Corinthians 1:25: Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
Even what appears foolish in God's plan surpasses the best human wisdom.
1 Corinthians 3:18: Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.
True wisdom begins when a person is willing to become foolish by the world's standards.
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 states the core answer: worldly wisdom is foolishness with God.
Romans 1:22: Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
Those who claimed to be wise while rejecting God ended up acting as fools.
Romans 1:23: And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.
The ultimate result of worldly wisdom is exchanging God's glory for corruptible images.
Paul is describing man's perspective. Les says that in man's eyes God appears foolish when He claims to save a person from the most utter, gutter-type existence and make him a saint, but that foolishness of God is still wiser than men and His weakness is stronger than men (1 Corinthians 1:25).
Because they reject what God has said. Les describes brilliant, intellectual men who think themselves wise yet make decisions as idiotic as a first grader, and Scripture says, "Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools" (Romans 1:22).
Scripture says, "If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise" (1 Corinthians 3:18). Les teaches that God saves people through the simple belief of the gospel plus nothing, because good works cannot carry the power of God.
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