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Text -- 1 Corinthians 3:19 (NET)

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Context
3:19 For the wisdom of this age is foolishness with God. As it is written, “He catches the wise in their craftiness.”
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Names, People and Places, Dictionary Themes and Topics

Dictionary Themes and Topics: Wisdom | Quotations and Allusions | Job, Book of | Ignorance | Corinthians, First Epistle to the | CRAFT; CRAFTINESS; CRAFTY | more
Table of Contents

Word/Phrase Notes
Robertson , Vincent , Wesley , JFB , Clarke , Calvin , Defender , TSK

Word/Phrase Notes
Barnes , Poole , Haydock , Gill

Verse Notes / Footnotes
NET Notes , Geneva Bible

Verse Range Notes
TSK Synopsis , MHCC , Matthew Henry , Barclay , Constable , College , McGarvey , Lapide

Other
Critics Ask , Evidence

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Commentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per phrase)

Robertson: 1Co 3:19 - -- Foolishness with God ( mōria para tōi theōi ). Whose standard does a church (temple) of God wish, that of this world or of God? The two standar...

Foolishness with God ( mōria para tōi theōi ).

Whose standard does a church (temple) of God wish, that of this world or of God? The two standards are not the same. It is a pertinent inquiry with us all whose idea rules in our church. Paul quotes Job 5:13.

Robertson: 1Co 3:19 - -- That taketh ( ho drassomenos ). Old verb drassomai , to grasp with the hand, is used here for the less vivid word in the lxx katalambanōn . It occu...

That taketh ( ho drassomenos ).

Old verb drassomai , to grasp with the hand, is used here for the less vivid word in the lxx katalambanōn . It occurs nowhere else in the N.T., but appears in the papyri to lay hands on. Job is quoted in the N.T. only here and in Rom 11:35 and both times with variations from the lxx. This word occurs in Ecclesiasticus 26:7; 34:2. In Psalms 2:12 the lxx has draxasthe paideias , lay hold on instruction.

Robertson: 1Co 3:19 - -- Craftiness ( panourgiāi ). The panourgos man is ready for any or all work (if bad enough). So it means versatile cleverness (Robertson and Plumme...

Craftiness ( panourgiāi ).

The panourgos man is ready for any or all work (if bad enough). So it means versatile cleverness (Robertson and Plummer), astutia (Vulgate).

Vincent: 1Co 3:19 - -- He taketh ( ὁ δρασσόμενος ) Cited from Job 5:13, but not following the Septuagint verbally. The verb occurs only here, meaning to...

He taketh ( ὁ δρασσόμενος )

Cited from Job 5:13, but not following the Septuagint verbally. The verb occurs only here, meaning to grasp with the hand . Rev., more accurately, gives the force of the participle with the article, he that taketh . This is the only allusion to the book of Job in the New Testament, except Jam 5:11.

Wesley: 1Co 3:19 - -- For all the boasted wisdom of the world is mere foolishness in the sight of God.

For all the boasted wisdom of the world is mere foolishness in the sight of God.

Wesley: 1Co 3:19 - -- Not only while they think they are acting wisely, but by their very wisdom, which itself is their snare, and the occasion of their destruction. Job 5:...

Not only while they think they are acting wisely, but by their very wisdom, which itself is their snare, and the occasion of their destruction. Job 5:13.

JFB: 1Co 3:19 - -- In the judgment of God.

In the judgment of God.

JFB: 1Co 3:19 - -- In Job 5:13. The formula of quoting SCRIPTURE used here, establishes the canonicity of Job.

In Job 5:13. The formula of quoting SCRIPTURE used here, establishes the canonicity of Job.

JFB: 1Co 3:19 - -- Proving the "foolishness" of the world's wisdom, since it is made by God the very snare to catch those who think themselves so wise. Literally, "He wh...

Proving the "foolishness" of the world's wisdom, since it is made by God the very snare to catch those who think themselves so wise. Literally, "He who taketh . . . the whole of the sentence not being quoted, but only the part which suited Paul's purpose.

Clarke: 1Co 3:19 - -- The wisdom of this world - Whether it be the pretended deep and occult wisdom of the rabbins, or the wire-drawn speculations of the Grecian philosop...

The wisdom of this world - Whether it be the pretended deep and occult wisdom of the rabbins, or the wire-drawn speculations of the Grecian philosophers, is foolishness with God; for as folly consists in spending time, strength, and pains to no purpose, so these may be fitly termed fools who acquire no saving knowledge by their speculations. And is not this the case with the major part of all that is called philosophy, even in the present day? Has one soul been made wise unto salvation through it? Are our most eminent philosophers either pious or useful men? Who of them is meek, gentle, and humble! Who of them directs his researches so as to meliorate the moral condition of his fellow creatures? Pride, insolence, self-conceit, and complacency, with a general forgetfulness of God, contempt for his word, and despite for the poor, are their general characteristics

Clarke: 1Co 3:19 - -- He taketh the wise in their own craftiness - This is a quotation from Job 5:13, and powerfully shows what the wisdom of this world is: it is a sort ...

He taketh the wise in their own craftiness - This is a quotation from Job 5:13, and powerfully shows what the wisdom of this world is: it is a sort of craft, a subtle trade, which they carry on to wrong others and benefit themselves; and they have generally too much cunning to be caught by men; but God often overthrows them with their own devisings. Paganism raised up persecution against the Church of Christ, in order to destroy it: this became the very means of quickly spreading it over the earth, and of destroying the whole pagan system. Thus the wise were taken in their own craftiness.

Calvin: 1Co 3:19 - -- 19.For the wisdom of this world This is an argument taken from things opposite. To maintain the one is to overturn the other. As, therefore, the wis...

19.For the wisdom of this world This is an argument taken from things opposite. To maintain the one is to overturn the other. As, therefore, the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God, it follows that we cannot be wise in the sight of God, unless we are fools in the view of the world. We have already explained (1Co 1:20) what he means by the wisdom of this world; for natural perspicacity is a gift of God, and the liberal arts, and all the sciences by which wisdom is acquired, are gifts of God. They are confined, however, within their own limits; for into God’s heavenly kingdom they cannot penetrate. Hence they must occupy the place of handmaid, not of mistress: nay more, they must be looked upon as empty and worthless, until they have become entirely subject to the word and Spirit of God. If, on the other hand, they set themselves in opposition to Christ, they must be looked upon as dangerous pests, and, if they strive to accomplish anything of themselves, as the worst of all hindrances. 198 Hence the wisdom of the world, in Paul’s acceptation, is that which assumes to itself authority, and does not allow itself to be regulated by the word of God, or to be subdued, so as to yield itself up in entire subjection to him. Until, therefore, matters have come to this, that the individual acknowledges that he knows nothing but what he has learned from God, and, giving up his own understanding; resigns himself unreservedly to Christ’s guidance, he is wise in the world’s account, but he is foolish in the estimation of God.

For it is written, He taketh the wise He confirms this from two Scripture proofs, the first of which is taken from Job 5:13, where the wisdom of God is extolled on this ground, that no wisdom of the world can stand before it.

Now it is certain, that the Prophet speaks there of those that are cunning and crafty; but as the wisdom of man is invariably such without God, 199 it is with good reason that Paul applies it in this sense, — that whatever wisdom men have of themselves is reckoned of no account in the sight of God. The second is from Psa 94:11, where David, after claiming for God alone the office and authority of the Instructor of all, adds, that He knows the thoughts of all to be vain. Hence, in whatever estimation they are held by us, they are, in the judgment of God, vain Here we have an admirable passage for bringing down the confidence of the flesh, while God from on high declares that everything that the mind of man conceives and contrives is mere vanity 200

Defender: 1Co 3:19 - -- This passage is quoted from Job 5:13. The preaching of the cross may be foolishness to those who are unsaved, but their wisdom is "foolishness with Go...

This passage is quoted from Job 5:13. The preaching of the cross may be foolishness to those who are unsaved, but their wisdom is "foolishness with God.""

TSK: 1Co 3:19 - -- the wisdom : 1Co 1:19, 1Co 1:20, 1Co 2:6; Isa 19:11-14, Isa 29:14-16, Isa 44:25; Rom 1:21, Rom 1:22 For : Job 5:13 He : Exo 1:10, Exo 18:11; 2Sa 15:31...

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Commentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per Verse)

Barnes: 1Co 3:19 - -- For the wisdom of this world - That which is esteemed to be wisdom by the people of this world on the subject of religion. It does not mean tha...

For the wisdom of this world - That which is esteemed to be wisdom by the people of this world on the subject of religion. It does not mean that true wisdom is foolishness with him. It does not mean that science, and prudence, and law - that the knowledge of his works - that astronomy, and medicine, and chemistry, are regarded by him as folly, and as unworthy the attention of people. God is the friend of truth on all subjects; and he requires us to become acquainted with his works, and commends those who search them, Psa 92:4; Psa 111:2. But the apostle refers here to that which was esteemed to be wisdom among the ancients, and in which they so much prided themselves, their vain, self-confident, and false opinions on the subject of religion; and especially those opinions when they were opposed to the simple but sublime truths of revelation. See the note at 1Co 1:20-21.

Is foolishness with God - Is esteemed by him to be folly. See the note at 1Co 1:20-24.

For it is written ... - Job 5:13. The word rendered "taketh"here denotes to clench with the fist, gripe, grasp. And the sense is:

(1) However crafty, or cunning, or skillful they may be; however self-confident, yet that they cannot deceive or impose upon God. He can thwart their plans, overthrow their schemes, defeat their counsels, and foil them in their enterprises, Job 5:12.

\caps1 (2) h\caps0 e does it by their own cunning or craftiness. He allows them to involve themselves in difficulties or to entangle each other. He makes use of even their own craft and cunning to defeat their counsels. He allows the plans of one wise man to come in conflict with those of another, and thus to destroy one another. Honesty in religion, as in everything else, is the best policy; and a man who pursues a course of conscientious integrity may expect the protection of God. But he who attempts to carry his purposes by craft and intrigue - who depends on skill and cunning instead of truth and honesty, will often find that he is the prey of his own cunning and duplicity.

Poole: 1Co 3:19 - -- For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God God accounteth that folly which the world calleth wisdom, and indeed it is so (for God cannot er...

For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God God accounteth that folly which the world calleth wisdom, and indeed it is so (for God cannot err, nor be mistaken in his judgment): the philosophers and wise men of the world propose the happiness of man as their end, which indeed is the true end which all men aim at, and do propound to themselves; true wisdom directeth the best means in order to the best end. Whatsoever directeth not to the best end, or to what is not the best means in order to that end, is not wisdom, but real folly; worldly wisdom neither directeth to the best end, for it looks at no further happiness than that of this life, nor yet to the best means, and therefore is truly, what God accounts it, foolishness.

For it is written: He taketh the wise in their own craftiness and to see the wise and learned men of the world thus err both in their judgment and practice, is no wonder at all; for God is set out of old by Eliphaz, as one that taketh the wise in their own craftiness, Job 5:13 .

Haydock: 1Co 3:18-21 - -- Let no man deceive himself. He next precautions them against themselves, and admonishes them to be upon their guard against curiosity, presumption, ...

Let no man deceive himself. He next precautions them against themselves, and admonishes them to be upon their guard against curiosity, presumption, and self-love, and tells them to undervalue all other sciences, when put in competition with the science of salvation, the knowledge of the gospel. It hence appears, that some of the Corinthians were renowned for that human eloquence which the world so much esteems, and accordingly the apostle discovers to them the danger to which they are exposing themselves, by pursuing their present line of conduct. (Calmet) ---

If any man among you seem to be wise in this world. He hints at some new teachers among them, (not at Apollo) who to gain the esteem of men, had introduced errors from profane philosophy, or the false principles of human wisdom, which, as he had told them before, was folly in the sight of God. He therefore tells such persons, that to become truly wise, they must become fools, by returning to the simplicity of the gospel-doctrine. (Witham) ---

Let no man. That is, let no man say, I am for Paul, I am for Apollo. This language will introduce into the Church of God those various sects that existed amongst the philosophers, who were distinguished by the title of Platonics, Stoics, Peripatetic, and so on. (Grotius)

Gill: 1Co 3:19 - -- For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God,.... The wisdom of the Jewish, or Gentile world. It is had in no account with him; it is despised...

For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God,.... The wisdom of the Jewish, or Gentile world. It is had in no account with him; it is despised and neglected by him; he makes it foolish, destroys it, and brings it to nothing; he lays it aside as useless, to make men wise unto salvation, and by the foolishness of preaching saves them that believe; he passes by the wise and prudent, and hides the things of the Gospel from them; so, that, with all their learning and wisdom, they can neither apprehend nor comprehend the mysteries of grace, whilst he reveals them unto babes, and chooses the foolish things of this world to spread the knowledge of himself, his Son, his Gospel, and the truths of it, and whom he makes successful, to the confusion of the wise and learned.

"For it is written", כדכתיב, an usual form of citing Scriptures with the Jews; it is in Job 5:13 he taketh the wise in their own craftiness, or by it. What Eliphaz says of the wise politicians of the world, who are often disappointed of their crafty devices, and cannot perform the enterprises they have took in hand, but their schemes are broken, and the snares they laid for others they are taken in themselves, is applied by the apostle to the Jewish doctors, or the Gentile philosophers, or rather to the false teachers among the Christians; whose schemes they have formed to corrupt the churches, and demolish the Gospel, prove their own destruction; nor will they, with all their cunning, be able to get out of the hand of God, and escape his awful vengeance. The allusion is either to the taking of wild beasts and birds in snares and nets, or to the taking of men in flight, laying hold of them with the hand, and grasping them hard, that they cannot get loose. The Targum interprets the words of the wise men of Pharaoh, and of the Egyptian astrologers, schemes they have formed to corrupt the churches, and demolish the Gospel, prove their own destruction; nor will they, with all their cunning, be able to get out of the hand of God, and escape his awful vengeance. The allusion is either to the taking of wild beasts and birds in snares and nets, or to the taking of men in flight, laying hold of them with the hand, and grasping them hard, that they cannot get loose. The Targum interprets the words of the wise men of Pharaoh, and of the Egyptian astrologers.

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Commentary -- Verse Notes / Footnotes

NET Notes: 1Co 3:19 A quotation from Job 5:13.

Geneva Bible: 1Co 3:19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He ( g ) taketh the wise in their own craftiness. ( g ) Be they ever so craf...

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Commentary -- Verse Range Notes

TSK Synopsis: 1Co 3:1-23 - --1 Milk is fit for children.3 Strife and division, arguments of a fleshly mind.7 He that planteth and he that watereth, are nothing.9 The ministers are...

MHCC: 1Co 3:18-23 - --To have a high opinion of our own wisdom, is but to flatter ourselves; and self-flattery is the next step to self-deceit. The wisdom that wordly men e...

Matthew Henry: 1Co 3:18-20 - -- Here he prescribes humility, and a modest opinion of themselves, for the remedy of the irregularities in the church of Corinth, the divisions and co...

Barclay: 1Co 3:16-22 - --To Paul the Church was the very temple of God because it was the society in which the Spirit of God dwelt. As Origen later said, "We are most of all...

Constable: 1Co 1:10--7:1 - --II. Conditions reported to Paul 1:10--6:20 The warm introduction to the epistle (1:1-9) led Paul to give a stron...

Constable: 1Co 1:10--5:1 - --A. Divisions in the church 1:10-4:21 The first major problem was the divisions that were fragmenting the...

Constable: 1Co 3:18-23 - --6. Human wisdom and limited blessing 3:18-23 The apostle now combined the threads of his argument, which began at 1:18, and drew a preliminary conclus...

College: 1Co 3:1-23 - --1 CORINTHIANS 3 3. Divisions a Sign of Worldliness (3:1-4) 1 Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual but as worldly - mere infants in Christ....

McGarvey: 1Co 3:19 - --For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written [Job 5:13], He that taketh the wise in their craftiness:

Lapide: 1Co 3:1-23 - --CHAPTER III. SYNOPSIS OF THE CHAPTER He endeavours to put an end to the divisions among the Corinthians, by reminding them of their mutual subjectio...

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Commentary -- Other

Critics Ask: 1Co 3:19 1 CORINTHIANS 3:19 —How could Paul consider the words of Eliphaz inspired when God rebuked Eliphaz for saying them to Job? PROBLEM: In 1 Corint...

Evidence: 1Co 3:19 The World’s Ignorant Maxims: 1. " All good things must come to an end." This isn’t true for the Christian; see Eph 2:4-7 . 2. " Which came fi...

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Introduction / Outline

Robertson: 1 Corinthians (Book Introduction) First Corinthians From Ephesus a.d. 54 Or 55 By Way of Introduction It would be a hard-boiled critic today who would dare deny the genuineness o...

JFB: 1 Corinthians (Book Introduction) The AUTHENTICITY of this Epistle is attested by CLEMENT OF ROME [First Epistle to the Corinthians, 47], POLYCARP [Epistle to the Philippians, 11], and...

JFB: 1 Corinthians (Outline) THE INSCRIPTION; THANKSGIVING FOR THE SPIRITUAL STATE OF THE CORINTHIAN CHURCH; REPROOF OF PARTY DIVISIONS: HIS OWN METHOD OF PREACHING ONLY CHRIST. ...

TSK: 1 Corinthians 3 (Chapter Introduction) Overview 1Co 3:1, Milk is fit for children; 1Co 3:3, Strife and division, arguments of a fleshly mind; 1Co 3:7, He that planteth and he that water...

Poole: 1 Corinthians 3 (Chapter Introduction) CORINTHIANS 3 1Co 3:1,2 Paul showeth that he could not instruct the Corinthians in the higher doctrines of Christianity because of their carnal m...

MHCC: 1 Corinthians (Book Introduction) The Corinthian church contained some Jews, but more Gentiles, and the apostle had to contend with the superstition of the one, and the sinful conduct ...

MHCC: 1 Corinthians 3 (Chapter Introduction) (1Co 3:1-4) The Corinthians reproved for their contentions. (1Co 3:5-9) The true servants of Christ can do nothing without him. (1Co 3:10-15) He is ...

Matthew Henry: 1 Corinthians (Book Introduction) An Exposition, with Practical Observations, of The First Epistle of St. Paul to the Corinthians Corinth was a principal city of Greece, in that partic...

Matthew Henry: 1 Corinthians 3 (Chapter Introduction) In this chapter the apostle, I. Blames the Corinthians for their carnality and divisions (1Co 3:1-4). II. He instructs them how what was amiss am...

Barclay: 1 Corinthians (Book Introduction) A GENERAL INTRODUCTION TO THE LETTERS OF PAUL The Letters Of Paul There is no more interesting body of documents in the New Testament than the letter...

Barclay: 1 Corinthians 3 (Chapter Introduction) The Supreme Importance Of God (1Co_3:1-9) The Foundation And The Builders (1Co_3:10-15) Wisdom And Foolishness (1Co_3:16-22)

Constable: 1 Corinthians (Book Introduction) Introduction Historical Background Corinth had a long history stretching back into the...

Constable: 1 Corinthians (Outline) Outline I. Introduction 1:1-9 A. Salutation 1:1-3 B. Thanksgiving 1:4-9 ...

Constable: 1 Corinthians 1 Corinthians Bibliography Adams, Jay. Marriage, Divorce and Remarriage in the Bible. Phillipsburg, N.J.: Presb...

Haydock: 1 Corinthians (Book Introduction) THE FIRST EPISTLE OF ST. PAUL, THE APOSTLE, TO THE CORINTHIANS. INTRODUCTION. Corinth was the capital of Achaia, a very rich and populous city...

Gill: 1 Corinthians (Book Introduction) INTRODUCTION TO 1 CORINTHIANS This was not the first epistle that was written by the apostle to the Corinthians, for we read in this of his having ...

Gill: 1 Corinthians 3 (Chapter Introduction) INTRODUCTION TO 1 CORINTHIANS 3 In this chapter the apostle returns to the charge of schisms and contentions upon the Corinthians, which were the o...

College: 1 Corinthians (Book Introduction) FOREWORD Since the past few decades have seen an explosion in the number of books, articles, and commentaries on First Corinthians, a brief word to t...

College: 1 Corinthians (Outline) OUTLINE I. INTRODUCTION - 1:1-9 A. Salutation - 1:1-3 B. Thanksgiving - 1:4-9 II. DISUNITY AND COMMUNITY FRAGMENTATION - 1:10-4:21 A. ...

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