It is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the learned and the understanding of the intelligent, I will make nought.1
Where is the wisdom of this world? God has made it nought; did away with; reject what is already laid down; set aside; nullify, make void; to break faith; remove out of an appointed place, i.e. reject as invalid; refuse to respect (even "despise"); to cancel, disannul, abrogate (passive, "be set aside" because perceived to lack value); to disregard, pass over (refuse to acknowledge).2 The world through wisdom did not know God so it pleased God through the foolishness (folly; literally, dull (lacking sharpness)) of the preaching (proclamation, especially its fundamentals) to save those who believe (have faith in, trust in, be persuaded).3
Christ crucified is a stumbling block to the Jews and foolishness to the Gentiles. God chose the foolishness of the gospel, to make annul the wisdom of man, so that man would not glorify in himself. It is these words that Jesus spoke, words which create all things, words of eternal life, bread of life and living water. His words are spirit and truth, persuasion is by these words of Truth and Spirit, not worldly wisdom. To them who are called, both Jew and Gentile, Christ is the power and wisdom of God.4 The dullness of God is wiser than the greatest wisdom of man, his words are sharper than a double edge sword dividing both soul and spirit. His weakness is stronger than the strongest men. Not many men are called who have the wisdom of men nor of noble birth.5
Where is the wisdom of this world? God has made it nought; did away with; reject what is already laid down; set aside; nullify, make void; to break faith; remove out of an appointed place, i.e. reject as invalid; refuse to respect (even "despise"); to cancel, disannul, abrogate (passive, "be set aside" because perceived to lack value); to disregard, pass over (refuse to acknowledge).2 The world through wisdom did not know God so it pleased God through the foolishness (folly; literally, dull (lacking sharpness)) of the preaching (proclamation, especially its fundamentals) to save those who believe (have faith in, trust in, be persuaded).3 Christ crucified is a stumbling block to the Jews and foolishness to the Gentiles. God chose the foolishness of the gospel, to make annul the wisdom of man, so that man would not glorify in himself. It is these words that Jesus spoke, words which create all things, words of eternal life, bread of life and living water. His words are spirit and truth, persuasion is by these words of Truth and Spirit, not worldly wisdom. To them who are called, both Jew and Gentile, Christ is the power and wisdom of God.4 The dullness of God is wiser than the greatest wisdom of man, his words are sharper than a double edge sword dividing both soul and spirit. His weakness is stronger than the strongest men. Not many men are called who have the wisdom of men nor of noble birth.5
It is the foolish things of the world God has chosen that He might shame the wise and it is the weak things He has chosen that he might shame the strong.6 It is the low-born of the world and the things being despised He has chosen to make nought, to annul the things being, so that no one will boast before God.7 It is the least of these He has chosen, the poor, the despised, the fatherless, the widow He has chosen to reveal His wisdom and to make nought the wisdom of the world. It is these beggars he has chosen. Blessed is the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.8 Knowing God is understanding the wisdom of God, it is loving the least of these.9
Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. False religion is based on the wisdom of men, it is not of God's wisdom. His wisdom is loving the least of these, helping the orphans and widows.10 His wisdom is not of educated knowledge, but of His work within us, wisdom revealed to us, written on our hearts by His spirit, these words that create life, His heart is for the least of these, to know God is to know this wisdom of God. God is a father to the fatherless, a defender of widows is God in his holy place.10 Religion without the wisdom of God's love is nothing, for anything we do not in love is nought.
Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him?11