1 Corinthians 1:20 (ASV)

Passage

Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?

Nearby Context

1 Corinthians 1:18 For the word of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us who are saved it is the power of God.

1 Corinthians 1:19 For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, And the discernment of the discerning will I bring to nought.

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 the world?

1 Corinthians 1:21 For seeing that in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom knew not God, it was God`s good pleasure through the foolishness of the preaching to save them that believe.

1 Corinthians 1:22 Seeing that Jews ask for signs, and Greeks seek after wisdom:

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "world", "where", "wise", "scribe", "disputer", and "hath". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "world" and "where", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 19's "For it is written I will destroy..." into verse 21's "For seeing that in the wisdom of...", so "world" and "where" belong inside that flow. In 1 Corinthians context, the local focus is Christ, faith, and discipleship.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "world" and "where" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.