1 Corinthians 1:19 (DBY)

Passage

For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and set aside the understanding of the understanding ones.

Nearby Context

1 Corinthians 1:17 For Christ has not sent me to baptise, but to preach glad tidings; not in wisdom of word, that the cross of the Christ may not be made vain.

1 Corinthians 1:18 For the word of the cross is to them that perish foolishness, but to us that are saved it is God's power.

1 Corinthians 1:19 For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and set aside the understanding of the understanding ones.

1 Corinthians 1:20 Where [is the] wise? where scribe? where disputer of this world? has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?

1 Corinthians 1:21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world by wisdom has not known God, God has been pleased by the foolishness of the preaching to save those that believe.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "written", "destroy", "wisdom", "wise", "aside", "understanding", and "ones". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "written" and "destroy", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 18's "For the word of the cross is..." into verse 20's "Where is the wise where scribe where...", so "written" and "destroy" 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 "written" and "destroy" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.