1 Corinthians 1:25
New International Version
For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.

New Living Translation
This foolish plan of God is wiser than the wisest of human plans, and God’s weakness is stronger than the greatest of human strength.

English Standard Version
For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

Berean Standard Bible
For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength.

Berean Literal Bible
For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God stronger than men.

King James Bible
Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

New King James Version
Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

New American Standard Bible
For the foolishness of God is wiser than mankind, and the weakness of God is stronger than mankind.

NASB 1995
Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

NASB 1977
Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

Legacy Standard Bible
Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

Amplified Bible
[This is] because the foolishness of God [is not foolishness at all and] is wiser than men [far beyond human comprehension], and the weakness of God is stronger than men [far beyond the limits of human effort].

Christian Standard Bible
because God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God’s weakness is stronger than human strength.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
because God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God’s weakness is stronger than human strength.

American Standard Version
Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

Contemporary English Version
Even when God is foolish, he is wiser than everyone else, and even when God is weak, he is stronger than everyone else.

English Revised Version
Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
God's nonsense is wiser than human wisdom, and God's weakness is stronger than human strength.

Good News Translation
For what seems to be God's foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and what seems to be God's weakness is stronger than human strength.

International Standard Version
For God's nonsense is wiser than human wisdom, and God's weakness is stronger than human strength.

Majority Standard Bible
For the foolishness of God is wiser than man?s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man?s strength.

NET Bible
For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.

New Heart English Bible
Because the foolishness of God is wiser than man's, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's.

Webster's Bible Translation
Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

Weymouth New Testament
Because that which the world deems foolish in God is wiser than men's wisdom, and that which it deems feeble in God is mightier than men's might.

World English Bible
because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men;

Berean Literal Bible
For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God stronger than men.

Young's Literal Translation
because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men;

Smith's Literal Translation
For the foolish thing of God is wiser than men; and the weak thing of God is stronger than men.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
For the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

Catholic Public Domain Version
For what is foolishness to God is considered wise by men, and that which is weakness to God is considered strong by men.

New American Bible
For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.

New Revised Standard Version
For God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God’s weakness is stronger than human strength.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
Because the madness of God is wiser than humans and the weakness of God is stronger than humans.
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
For the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

Godbey New Testament
Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

Haweis New Testament
For this foolishness of God is wiser than men; and this weakness of God is stronger than men.

Mace New Testament
for this divine doctrine, as foolish and weak as men may think it, far surpasses all their wisdom, and baffles all their power.

Weymouth New Testament
Because that which the world deems foolish in God is wiser than men's wisdom, and that which it deems feeble in God is mightier than men's might.

Worrell New Testament
Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

Worsley New Testament
Because the foolishness of God, as they call it, is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Message of the Cross
24but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength. 26Brothers, consider the time of your calling: Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were powerful; not many were of noble birth.…

Cross References
Isaiah 55:8-9
“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways,” declares the LORD. / “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so My ways are higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.

Romans 11:33-36
O, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments, and untraceable His ways! / “Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been His counselor?” / “Who has first given to God, that God should repay him?” ...

Proverbs 14:12
There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.

Job 12:13
Wisdom and strength belong to God; counsel and understanding are His.

Isaiah 40:28
Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary; His understanding is beyond searching out.

Jeremiah 8:9
The wise will be put to shame; they will be dismayed and trapped. Since they have rejected the word of the LORD, what wisdom do they really have?

Ecclesiastes 7:19
Wisdom makes the wise man stronger than ten rulers in a city.

Proverbs 21:30
There is no wisdom, no understanding, no counsel that can prevail against the LORD.

Matthew 11:25
At that time Jesus declared, “I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because You have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children.

Colossians 2:3
in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

James 3:17
But the wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peace-loving, gentle, accommodating, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial, and sincere.

1 Corinthians 3:19
For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness.”

1 Corinthians 2:14
The natural man does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God. For they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.

Romans 1:22
Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools,

Isaiah 44:25
who foils the signs of false prophets and makes fools of diviners, who confounds the wise and turns their knowledge into nonsense,


Treasury of Scripture

Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

the foolishness.

1 Corinthians 1:18,27-29
For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God…

Exodus 13:17
And it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God led them not through the way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, Lest peradventure the people repent when they see war, and they return to Egypt:

Exodus 14:2-4
Speak unto the children of Israel, that they turn and encamp before Pihahiroth, between Migdol and the sea, over against Baalzephon: before it shall ye encamp by the sea…

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Deems Feeble Foolish Foolishness Mightier Seems Strength Stronger Weakness Wisdom Wiser World
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1 Corinthians 1
1. After his salutation and thanksgiving for the Corinthians,
10. Paul exhorts them to unity,
12. and reproves their dissensions.
18. God destroys the wisdom of the wise,
21. by the foolishness of preaching;
26. and calls not the wise, mighty, and noble,
28. but the foolish, weak, and men of no account.














For the foolishness of God
The phrase "foolishness of God" is a profound paradox that Paul uses to challenge human perceptions of wisdom. The Greek word for "foolishness" is "mōria," which can imply absurdity or folly. In the context of the Greco-Roman world, where wisdom and philosophy were highly esteemed, the message of the cross seemed irrational. However, Paul emphasizes that what appears as "foolishness" to human understanding is part of God's divine plan, which transcends human logic. This challenges believers to trust in God's wisdom, even when it defies worldly expectations.

is wiser than man's wisdom
Here, Paul contrasts divine "foolishness" with "man's wisdom." The Greek word for "wiser" is "sophos," which denotes a deep, insightful understanding. Human wisdom, represented by the Greek "sophia," often relies on intellectual prowess and philosophical reasoning. However, Paul asserts that God's "foolishness" surpasses even the highest human intellect. This serves as a reminder that true wisdom comes from God and that human wisdom is limited and often flawed. Believers are encouraged to seek divine wisdom through prayer and scripture, rather than relying solely on human understanding.

and the weakness of God
The phrase "weakness of God" is another paradoxical statement. The Greek word for "weakness" is "astheneia," which can mean frailty or lack of strength. In the context of the crucifixion, the apparent "weakness" of Christ's suffering and death is actually the power of God at work. This concept would have been countercultural in a society that valued strength and power. Paul uses this paradox to illustrate that God's ways are not our ways, and His power is made perfect in what the world perceives as weakness.

is stronger than man's strength
Paul concludes with a powerful assertion that God's "weakness" is mightier than human "strength." The Greek word for "stronger" is "ischuros," indicating might and power. Human strength, often associated with physical power or military might, is ultimately limited. In contrast, God's strength is infinite and eternal. This serves as an encouragement to believers to rely on God's strength rather than their own. It is a call to humility, recognizing that true power comes from God and is often revealed in unexpected ways.

(25) Because.--This introduces the reason why Christ, as being crucified, is the power and wisdom of God, viz., because God's folly (as they call it) is wiser, not "than the wisdom of men," as some understand this passage, but than men themselves--embracing in that word all that men can know or hope ever to know; and the weakness of God (as they regard it) is stronger than men.

Verse 25. - The foolishness of God... the weakness of God; the method, that is, whereby God works, and which men take to be foolish and weak, because with arrogant presumption they look upon themselves as the measure of all things. But God achieves the mightiest ends by the humblest means, and the gospel of Christ allied itself from the first, not with the world's strength and splendour, but with all which the world despised as mean and feeble - with fishermen and tax gatherers, with slaves, and women, and artizans. The lesson was specially needful to the Corinthians, whom Cicero describes ('De Leg. Age,' 2:32) as "famous, not only for their luxuriousness, but also for their wealth and philosophic culture."

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
For
Ὅτι (Hoti)
Conjunction
Strong's 3754: Neuter of hostis as conjunction; demonstrative, that; causative, because.

the
τὸ (to)
Article - Nominative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

foolishness
μωρὸν (mōron)
Adjective - Nominative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3474: Probably from the base of musterion; dull or stupid, i.e. Heedless, blockhead, absurd.

of God
Θεοῦ (Theou)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 2316: A deity, especially the supreme Divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very.

is
ἐστίν (estin)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1510: I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.

wiser
σοφώτερον (sophōteron)
Adjective - Nominative Neuter Singular - Comparative
Strong's 4680: Wise, learned, cultivated, skilled, clever. Akin to saphes; wise.

than man’s [wisdom],
ἀνθρώπων (anthrōpōn)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Plural
Strong's 444: A man, one of the human race. From aner and ops; man-faced, i.e. A human being.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

the
τὸ (to)
Article - Nominative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

weakness
ἀσθενὲς (asthenes)
Adjective - Nominative Neuter Singular
Strong's 772: (lit: not strong), (a) weak (physically, or morally), (b) infirm, sick. Strengthless.

of God
Θεοῦ (Theou)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 2316: A deity, especially the supreme Divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very.

[is] stronger
ἰσχυρότερον (ischyroteron)
Adjective - Nominative Neuter Singular - Comparative
Strong's 2478: Strong (originally and generally of physical strength); mighty, powerful, vehement, sure. From ischus; forcible.

than man’s [strength].
ἀνθρώπων (anthrōpōn)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Plural
Strong's 444: A man, one of the human race. From aner and ops; man-faced, i.e. A human being.


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NT Letters: 1 Corinthians 1:25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser (1 Cor. 1C iC 1Cor i cor icor)
1 Corinthians 1:24
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