Ἐπειδὴ γὰρ ἐν τῇ σοφίᾳ τοῦ Θεοῦ, οὐκ ἔγνω ὁ κόσμος διὰ τῆς σοφίας τὸν Θεόν, εὐδόκησεν ὁ Θεὸς, διὰ τῆς μωρίας τοῦ κηρύγματος, σῶσαι τοὺς πιστεύοντας.
Those are the words Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 1:21. A word-for-word translation of the above, from the original Greek to English, reads kinda funny, see that next (and interested individuals can see the word-for-word breakdown on Biblehub.com’s Interlinear site here).
Since for in the wisdom of God, not knowing the world through the wisdom of God, was pleased that God, through the foolishness of the proclamation to save those believing.
Even regular translations are a little hard to wrap one’s mind around. Here is the verse from the NASB.
For since in the wisdom of God, the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe.
This is a verse that needs context to really grasp the meaning. The context establishes Paul’s distinction in this verse as he contrasts how the world perceives the cross of Christ and how believers see it. I love how Eugene Peterson translated the section. Read verses 18-21 with verse 21 underlined below.
The Message that points to Christ on the Cross seems like sheer silliness to those hellbent on destruction, but for those on the way of salvation, it makes perfect sense. This is the way God works, and most powerfully as it turns out. It’s written, I’ll turn conventional wisdom on its head, I’ll expose so-called experts as shams. So where can you find someone truly wise, truly educated, truly intelligent in this day and age? Hasn’t God exposed it all as pretentious nonsense? Since the world in all its fancy wisdom never had a clue when it came to knowing God, God in his wisdom took delight in using what the world considered stupid—preaching, of all things!—to bring those who trust him into the way of salvation.
There are a lot of ways that we get to know God better, but the best way, considered foolish by the world, is the message, meaning, and proclamation of Jesus’ death for us on the cross.
Pastor John Riley
Jr. High Pastor