Logos Bible Study

1 Corinthians 1:19–20

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1:19For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and I will thwart the cleverness of the intelligent.”211:20Where is the wise man? Where is the expert in the Mosaic law?22 Where is the debater of this age? Has God not made the wisdom of the world foolish?

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Footnotes

  1. 21 A quotation from Isa 29:14.
  2. 22 Grk “the scribe.” The traditional rendering of γραμματεύς (grammateus) as “scribe” does not communicate much to the modern English reader, for whom the term might mean “professional copyist,” if it means anything at all. The people referred to here were recognized experts in the law of Moses and in traditional laws and regulations. Thus “expert in the Mosaic law” comes closer to the meaning for the modern reader.

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

For it is written,

“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,

and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.”

Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?

NIVNew International Version (2011)

For it is written:

“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise;

the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”

Where is the wise person? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?

CSBChristian Standard Bible

For it is written,

I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,

and I will set aside the intelligence of the intelligent.

Where is the one who is wise? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the debater of this age? Hasn’t God made the world’s wisdom foolish?

NLTNew Living Translation

As the Scriptures say,

“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise

and discard the intelligence of the intelligent.”

So where does this leave the philosophers, the scholars, and the world’s brilliant debaters? God has made the wisdom of this world look foolish.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

For it is written,

“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,

and the intelligence of the intelligent I will confound.”

Where is the wise person? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?

KJV 1900King James Version

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