Read: 1 Corinthians 1:18-25

“Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe.” – 1 Corinthians 1:20b-21

Something to remember when reading Paul’s letters to churches is that each letter has a specific context and addresses specific problems. In the case of this particular letter, he addresses the conflict between the church and the surrounding community.

Are we all on the same page now? Good!

Corinth was a Greek church, so converts would have approached their faith from the perspective of acquiring wisdom. Paul is warning them that trying to reconcile the faith with the wisdom of the world is going to be problematic. The sayings of Jesus are countercultural in many ways, and we have that issue even today as we live in a capitalist society where the focus is on acquiring “stuff” and money.

Paul’s words here give me hope because he mentions that the teachings of Christ seem like folly to the world and that God has effectively changed the rules of engagement. Instead of having a God we worship in the form of a statue or an oracle, we have a God who deigned to come down and be with us. How amazing is that!

Help us to understand your teachings that seem like folly and grant us wisdom for the things we face in our daily lives. Amen.
-Jen McCabe