Dump Wisdom?
The Christian faith rests upon the foundation of the Cross, the testimony of Scripture, and the various reasons to place our faith in them—some personal and subjective, others rational, objective and provable. Many try to dismiss and marginalize Christianity as just a matter of taste—personal and private faith. Sadly, even Christians down-play the miraculous evidences and the rational proofs—those elements that demonstrate that Christianity is reality-based and not just a matter of feelings, diet or culture. Therefore, it pertains to everyone. When Christians disdain evidences, wisdom and rationality are resort to Scripture to try to prove their case, it’s usually First Corinthians:
For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel--not with words of human wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power. 18For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19For it is written: "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate." 20Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. 22Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, 23but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles. (1 Cor. 1:17-23)
While it might seem that Paul is claiming that preaching “Christ crucified” (verse 23) is opposed to wisdom, he is actually contrasting unredeemed “human wisdom” (17)—the “wisdom of the world” (20)—with true wisdom, the “wisdom of God” (21).
Paul’s quotation of Isaiah 29:14 in verse 19 makes this clear. On the surface, it seems that God has an issue with “wisdom” and “intelligence” and will therefore destroy them. However, when we look at Isaiah, it becomes evident that the problem isn’t wisdom and intelligence but our perverted use and prideful regard for them. The preceding verse illustrates this:
The Lord says: "These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is made up only of rules taught by men.” (Isaiah 29:13)
It was their perverted “wisdom” and “intelligence” that enabled them to trust in their own thinking and to justify setting aside God’s truths for their own. Paul saw how this same “wisdom” enabled the Corinthian church to break up into factions, each considering their own faction to be superior one, at the expense of God’s wisdom, the Gospel. They identified with certain preachers, whom they probably praised for their eloquence and “wisdom.” They seemed to regard some as “super-apostles” (2 Cor. 11:5, 13).
Loving wisdom wasn’t Corinthians’ problem. To truly love wisdom, would be to love the Gospel, the wisdom of God (1 Cor. 1:24; 2:7), while human, worldly wisdom rejects the light of the Gospel (John 3:19-20). Because of this “wisdom,” the Corinthians’ boasted in mere humans:
Do not deceive yourselves. If any one of you thinks he is wise by the standards of this age, he should become a "fool" so that he may become wise. 19For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God's sight. As it is written: "He catches the wise in their craftiness"; 20and again, "The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile." 21So then, no more boasting about men! All things are yours. (1 Cor. 3:18-21)
Paul wasn’t arguing against the “wise.” Rather, he wanted them to “become wise” (verse 18). Paul’s concern was about what was considered wisdom “by the standards of this age” (18). This “wisdom” promoted a man-centeredness, which is at variance with the things of God. Paul’s quotation (verse 19) identifies this “wisdom” as one that takes the form of cunning.
In verse 20, Paul quotes Psalm 94:11 which claims that, because of these “thoughts,” the “wise” would have to be chastened. Clearly, this is not a criticism of true wisdom, as exemplified by the Proverbs; this is a worldly “wisdom” which is in opposition to true wisdom. The Corinthians loved the human wisdom (1:17) of eloquent words, and had a lesser taste for Divine wisdom. The NIV Study Bible explains “human wisdom” this way:
Lit. “wisdom of speech.” Paul’s mission was not to couch the gospel in the language of the trained orator, who had studied techniques of influencing people by persuasive arguments.
Trusting in their own wisdom, some of them didn’t even believe in the resurrection (15:12), a cornerstone of the Christian faith. It’s no wonder that Paul wanted to set things aright. Salvation wasn’t about eloquence or even the gifts of the Spirit; it was about “Christ and Him crucified” (2:1-2)! If the Gospel was to rest on human wisdom, then human wisdom, with all its prejudices, was supreme and could decide that certain elements of the Gospel, like the resurrection, had to go. This didn’t mean that wisdom didn’t play an important part. It did, but the pursuit of wisdom came after the Gospel message and was subordinate to it (2:6).
It just isn’t possible that Paul was making a case against reason and wisdom. In the Book of Acts, we find Paul making use of reason in his presentation of the Gospel (Acts 17:2-4: 18:4; 28:23). According to him, wisdom even plays a major role in salvation (2 Tim. 3:15). In this letter to the Corinthians, Paul emphasizes the critical role of wisdom, God’s wisdom. He chastens them for taking their disputes to the secular authorities, saying:
I say this to shame you. Is it possible that there is nobody among you wise enough to judge a dispute between believers? (1 Cor. 6:5)
Scripture consistently values Godly wisdom. It simply isn’t possible that God is seeking to destroy “wisdom” and intelligent reasoning, while, at the same time, commanding that we grow in regards to these: “Brothers, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be adults” (1 Cor. 14:20). How is it possible that He is attempting to destroy wisdom, while at the same time graciously granting the gift of wisdom (1 Cor. 12:6)? Instead, we find that Scripture makes a sharp distinction between the “wisdom” that comes from below (worldly wisdom), and the wisdom that comes from above (James 3).
The notion that the Gospel must be presented without wisdom and reason is also incoherent. I can’t imagine an evangelistic conversation where I’d choose to turn off wisdom and reason. Without reason and logic, our sentences wouldn’t make sense; our thoughts would be disconnected and non-sensical; we would fail to understand our audience in a way they could understand it (1 Cor. 9:19-22; Acts 17:22-31); we wouldn’t know how to answer others in a humble, intelligent, and respectful manner (2 Tim. 2:24-26).
Everything Paul wrote reflected his wisdom, the mind of Christ. He could hardly have been teaching against it! Nor is Paul contrasting the Gospel message with the miraculous evidence for the Gospel (Acts 1:3; Hebrews 2:3-4). Nor is he suggesting that we should believe without evidences. Rather, he cites the “demonstration of the Spirit’s power” which enables the believers to rest his confidence upon “God’s power” (1 Cor. 2:4-5). He also points to how the supernatural gifts serve to bring people into the faith (14:25-26). In addition to this, he mentions how his own miraculous encounter with the risen Christ was pivotal for him (15:8).
Disparaging the fruits of Biblical contemplation, Christianity has become a private affair, divorced from the universities and public discourse, and this isn’t surprising. When we degrade the factual, objective, rational, and provable aspects of the faith, we are saying that, “It’s not for public consumption or discussion. It just applies to my own personal heart and to anyone else who is willing to take a blind leap of faith into a world where one must park the questioning mind at the door.” This is a message that the secular world is very ready to hear and promote in regards to Christianity!
The Christian faith rests upon the foundation of the Cross, the testimony of Scripture, and the various reasons to place our faith in them—some personal and subjective, others rational, objective and provable. Many try to dismiss and marginalize Christianity as just a matter of taste—personal and private faith. Sadly, even Christians down-play the miraculous evidences and the rational proofs—those elements that demonstrate that Christianity is reality-based and not just a matter of feelings, diet or culture. Therefore, it pertains to everyone. When Christians disdain evidences, wisdom and rationality are resort to Scripture to try to prove their case, it’s usually First Corinthians:
For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel--not with words of human wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power. 18For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19For it is written: "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate." 20Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. 22Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, 23but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles. (1 Cor. 1:17-23)
While it might seem that Paul is claiming that preaching “Christ crucified” (verse 23) is opposed to wisdom, he is actually contrasting unredeemed “human wisdom” (17)—the “wisdom of the world” (20)—with true wisdom, the “wisdom of God” (21).
Paul’s quotation of Isaiah 29:14 in verse 19 makes this clear. On the surface, it seems that God has an issue with “wisdom” and “intelligence” and will therefore destroy them. However, when we look at Isaiah, it becomes evident that the problem isn’t wisdom and intelligence but our perverted use and prideful regard for them. The preceding verse illustrates this:
The Lord says: "These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is made up only of rules taught by men.” (Isaiah 29:13)
It was their perverted “wisdom” and “intelligence” that enabled them to trust in their own thinking and to justify setting aside God’s truths for their own. Paul saw how this same “wisdom” enabled the Corinthian church to break up into factions, each considering their own faction to be superior one, at the expense of God’s wisdom, the Gospel. They identified with certain preachers, whom they probably praised for their eloquence and “wisdom.” They seemed to regard some as “super-apostles” (2 Cor. 11:5, 13).
Loving wisdom wasn’t Corinthians’ problem. To truly love wisdom, would be to love the Gospel, the wisdom of God (1 Cor. 1:24; 2:7), while human, worldly wisdom rejects the light of the Gospel (John 3:19-20). Because of this “wisdom,” the Corinthians’ boasted in mere humans:
Do not deceive yourselves. If any one of you thinks he is wise by the standards of this age, he should become a "fool" so that he may become wise. 19For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God's sight. As it is written: "He catches the wise in their craftiness"; 20and again, "The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile." 21So then, no more boasting about men! All things are yours. (1 Cor. 3:18-21)
Paul wasn’t arguing against the “wise.” Rather, he wanted them to “become wise” (verse 18). Paul’s concern was about what was considered wisdom “by the standards of this age” (18). This “wisdom” promoted a man-centeredness, which is at variance with the things of God. Paul’s quotation (verse 19) identifies this “wisdom” as one that takes the form of cunning.
In verse 20, Paul quotes Psalm 94:11 which claims that, because of these “thoughts,” the “wise” would have to be chastened. Clearly, this is not a criticism of true wisdom, as exemplified by the Proverbs; this is a worldly “wisdom” which is in opposition to true wisdom. The Corinthians loved the human wisdom (1:17) of eloquent words, and had a lesser taste for Divine wisdom. The NIV Study Bible explains “human wisdom” this way:
Lit. “wisdom of speech.” Paul’s mission was not to couch the gospel in the language of the trained orator, who had studied techniques of influencing people by persuasive arguments.
Trusting in their own wisdom, some of them didn’t even believe in the resurrection (15:12), a cornerstone of the Christian faith. It’s no wonder that Paul wanted to set things aright. Salvation wasn’t about eloquence or even the gifts of the Spirit; it was about “Christ and Him crucified” (2:1-2)! If the Gospel was to rest on human wisdom, then human wisdom, with all its prejudices, was supreme and could decide that certain elements of the Gospel, like the resurrection, had to go. This didn’t mean that wisdom didn’t play an important part. It did, but the pursuit of wisdom came after the Gospel message and was subordinate to it (2:6).
It just isn’t possible that Paul was making a case against reason and wisdom. In the Book of Acts, we find Paul making use of reason in his presentation of the Gospel (Acts 17:2-4: 18:4; 28:23). According to him, wisdom even plays a major role in salvation (2 Tim. 3:15). In this letter to the Corinthians, Paul emphasizes the critical role of wisdom, God’s wisdom. He chastens them for taking their disputes to the secular authorities, saying:
I say this to shame you. Is it possible that there is nobody among you wise enough to judge a dispute between believers? (1 Cor. 6:5)
Scripture consistently values Godly wisdom. It simply isn’t possible that God is seeking to destroy “wisdom” and intelligent reasoning, while, at the same time, commanding that we grow in regards to these: “Brothers, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be adults” (1 Cor. 14:20). How is it possible that He is attempting to destroy wisdom, while at the same time graciously granting the gift of wisdom (1 Cor. 12:6)? Instead, we find that Scripture makes a sharp distinction between the “wisdom” that comes from below (worldly wisdom), and the wisdom that comes from above (James 3).
The notion that the Gospel must be presented without wisdom and reason is also incoherent. I can’t imagine an evangelistic conversation where I’d choose to turn off wisdom and reason. Without reason and logic, our sentences wouldn’t make sense; our thoughts would be disconnected and non-sensical; we would fail to understand our audience in a way they could understand it (1 Cor. 9:19-22; Acts 17:22-31); we wouldn’t know how to answer others in a humble, intelligent, and respectful manner (2 Tim. 2:24-26).
Everything Paul wrote reflected his wisdom, the mind of Christ. He could hardly have been teaching against it! Nor is Paul contrasting the Gospel message with the miraculous evidence for the Gospel (Acts 1:3; Hebrews 2:3-4). Nor is he suggesting that we should believe without evidences. Rather, he cites the “demonstration of the Spirit’s power” which enables the believers to rest his confidence upon “God’s power” (1 Cor. 2:4-5). He also points to how the supernatural gifts serve to bring people into the faith (14:25-26). In addition to this, he mentions how his own miraculous encounter with the risen Christ was pivotal for him (15:8).
Disparaging the fruits of Biblical contemplation, Christianity has become a private affair, divorced from the universities and public discourse, and this isn’t surprising. When we degrade the factual, objective, rational, and provable aspects of the faith, we are saying that, “It’s not for public consumption or discussion. It just applies to my own personal heart and to anyone else who is willing to take a blind leap of faith into a world where one must park the questioning mind at the door.” This is a message that the secular world is very ready to hear and promote in regards to Christianity!
Daniel Mann
