1 Corinthians 1:20 (LSB)

Passage

Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?

Nearby Context

1 Corinthians 1:18 For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being 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 cleverness of the clever I will set aside.”

1 Corinthians 1:20 Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?

1 Corinthians 1:21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was well-pleased, through the foolishness of the message preached, to save those who believe.

1 Corinthians 1:22 For indeed Jews ask for signs and Greeks search for wisdom,

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "world", "where", "wise", "scribe", "debater", "foolish", and "wisdom". 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 since in the wisdom of God...", 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.