1 Corinthians 1:25 (YLT)

Passage

because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men;

Nearby Context

1 Corinthians 1:23 also we--we preach Christ crucified, to Jews, indeed, a stumbling-block, and to Greeks foolishness,

1 Corinthians 1:24 and to those called--both Jews and Greeks--Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God,

1 Corinthians 1:25 because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men;

1 Corinthians 1:26 for see your calling, brethren, that not many <FI>are<Fi> wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble;

1 Corinthians 1:27 but the foolish things of the world did God choose, that the wise He may put to shame; and the weak things of the world did God choose that He may put to shame the strong;

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "foolishness", "wiser", "than", "weakness", and "stronger". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "foolishness" and "wiser", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 24's "and to those called--both Jews and Greeks--Christ..." into verse 26's "for see your calling brethren that not...", so "foolishness" and "wiser" 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 "foolishness" and "wiser" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.