And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.
The Lord knows the thoughts of those counted wise in this world, that they are empty and worthless, for worldly wisdom is foolishness with Him and its crafty schemes will not stand when revealed in judgment. It was spoken to reprove jealousy, strife and party loyalty in Corinth, where claiming to belong to Paul or Apollos and withdrawing from some while binding up with others showed carnal minds guided by narrow conceit rather than the mind and Spirit of Christ. Paul and Apollos and Cephas are only servants through whom belief comes as the Lord gave to each, one planting and another watering while God alone gives the increase, so neither is anything and each will be rewarded according to his own labor. No one should deceive himself about being wise in this world or glory in men, in might, riches, skill or theoretical knowledge, but one who seems wise must become a fool in worldly eyes in order to become truly wise, glorying only in the Lord and in knowing Him, with Christ made unto believers wisdom and righteousness and sanctification and redemption. The verse therefore calls for humbled, contrite hearts, sober self-examination, unity without pride, envy or judging of fellow believers, and building only on Jesus Christ as the foundation, whose fire-tried day will manifest every man's work for reward or loss.
Context and Plain Meaning
The Lord knows the thoughts of those counted wise in this world, and those thoughts are vain, empty and worthless. Worldly wisdom is foolishness with God, for He takes and catches the wise in their own craftiness. He sets His face against every work of lording it over His heritage and blows upon all Pharisaical forms and prayers and ceremonies. Worldly schemes and plans, including those counted wise in financial and business matters, will not stand when life is revealed in the judgment, but every man's work will be made manifest when the day declares it by fire that tries what sort it is.
Its setting is reproof of jealousy, strife and factional loyalty in Corinth. Saying I am of Paul and I am of Apollos, withdrawing from some for no reason but imagination while binding up with others, and proudly attaching to a particular human teacher showed carnal minds walking as men and guided by narrow conceit rather than the mind and Spirit of Christ. Such reliance on human wisdom, self-confidence, division, pride and independence cannot justify or guide Christ's followers. Exalting successful ministers, lifting the soul to vanity over planting and watering, taking sides and drawing apart over misconceived opinions is that same vain wisdom, and building in self-confidence after own notions without reference to brethren lays only suppositions and rubbish on the foundation.
Paul and Apollos and Cephas are only ministers by whom belief comes as the Lord gave to each man. One plants and another waters, but God gives the increase, so neither he that plants nor he that waters is anything, but God that gives the increase. He that plants and he that waters are one in object though their work may differ, and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labor. All things are the believers', whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or things present or things to come, for believers are Christ's and Christ is God's.
The verse belongs to the instruction and reproof of 1 Corinthians 1-3 for ministers of the gospel and for all churches wherever they are located. It is to be read in every church and received for the soul's sake in seeking truth and searching the Scriptures. It is to be thought over at home and personally applied together with the rest of 1 Corinthians 2 and 3 for instruction in righteousness, with the promise that God will help the one who so applies it to understand it.
True Wisdom From God
No one is to fool himself about being wise in this world, for the one who seems wise in this world must become a fool in order to become truly wise. Becoming a fool means becoming a fool in worldly eyes and in one's own estimation, being willing to be called foolish by the world for doing right, for many will call a person a fool for this or that, but when it is the right thing to do it should be done. This calls a person to let go of human skill and craftiness and theoretical knowledge, rebukes self-confidence in those forward to speak, and urges them to consider themselves.
No one is to glory in men, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas, nor in human wisdom, might, riches, skill, or craftiness, for worldly schemes will not stand when life is revealed in the judgment. Instead glory is to be only in the Lord and in understanding and knowing Him who exercises lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth. All things belong to believers, the world and life and death and things present and things to come, and believers are Christ's and Christ is God's. Christ is made unto believers wisdom and righteousness and sanctification and redemption, and true faith is faith which works by love and purifies the soul in practical godliness.
Jesus Christ is the only foundation that can be laid, and every man's work built on it will be made manifest. Just as surely as selfishness is woven into work it will be revealed for what it is, for the day shall declare it by fire that tries what sort it is, with reward for work that abides and loss for work that burns. Therefore no one is to lift himself up in exaltation, treat himself as a foundation for others to build on, or take glory in men or in himself. True wisdom comes from God alone, given to those who will make the best use of it. Christ holds all power in heaven and earth, knows who is prepared to act as His helping hand in the closing scenes of this earth's history, sees where wisdom is most needed, and strengthens the minds of His servants to plan and execute for the greatest advantage of His work.
Humility Unity and Obedience
The verse calls for humbled, contrite hearts prepared as a dwelling place for the Most High, and unless hearts are thus humbled before God names will not be placed in the book of life. It requires self-examination rather than reliance on own judgment or on the approval of others, for human reason and self-judgment are not to be trusted. No one is to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, and no one is to lift himself up in exaltation or treat himself as a foundation for others to build on. Supposing oneself superior to fellow men in wisdom lets self take the throne and lets Satan corrupt mind and heart away from the simplicity of the gospel, rousing hereditary and cultivated tendencies to wrong, while the manifestation of genuine humility is the evidence of guarding against the mastery of self. True wisdom comes from God alone, given to those who will make the best use of it, and Christ holds all power in heaven and earth, knowing who is prepared to act as His helping hand in the closing scenes of earth's history, seeing where wisdom is most needed, and strengthening His servants to plan and execute for the greatest advantage of His work.
It forbids pride, independence, exaltation, and judging fellow believers because they do not meet one's own standards of perfection. The jealousy, strife, and factional loyalty at Corinth showed carnal minds guided by narrow conceit rather than the mind and Spirit of Christ, and saying I am of Paul and I am of Apollos, withdrawing from some for no reason but imagination while binding up with others, is walking as men. Paul and Apollos are only ministers by whom belief comes as the Lord gave to each; one plants and another waters but God gives the increase, so neither is anything, planters and waterers are one in object though work differs, and each receives reward according to his own labor, so a minister who emphasizes another phase of truth or presents the Word in a different way should not be condemned. Cherishing discord, prejudice, envy, jealousy, and evil surmisings against brethren repeats that fault, separates from brethren and thus from God, and greatly hinders the Spirit, who will not be sent as Comforter and Strengthener until His people are all of one mind, loving as brethren, pitiful and courteous. Believers are therefore to reject proudly attaching themselves to a particular human teacher and to work in unity, humility, and mutual care.
Christian work is individual, so believers should stop finding fault with another's work and instead improve themselves. God's laborers must not be ordered, controlled, or judged in their duties by other fallible people, but are to seek God's instruction and serve in the liberty God gives. No ruling power should compel obedience to the dictates of the finite mind, for faith and practice must be energized by the Holy Spirit. Exalting successful ministers, lifting the soul to vanity over planting and watering, glorying in men, taking sides and drawing apart over misconceived opinions is vain wisdom. Anyone who in self-confidence builds after his own notions, plans, and desires without reference to brethren lays only suppositions and rubbish on the foundation, and if ministers become exalted for success their light will be removed.
The verse requires keeping the body as God's holy temple undefiled, under penalty of destruction by cause producing effect. It calls for keeping the body in healthful condition as God's purchased property, with clear and active intellect to think candidly and critically, arousing the moral powers to look to Jesus for grace to overcome unnatural craving. It requires total abstinence from alcohol and every indulgence that confuses reason and wars against the soul. It directs the mind away from wrong channels, idle words, and murky waters toward the opening of the Word and its precious treasures, learning all possible from it and doing one's best, and warns against letting Satan work through lower appetites and passions or plant evil seed to be passed to others. For youth it calls to sincere conversion, to bow the will to heaven, to receive forgiveness of sin, and to honor the Creator by a truthful, refined, uplifted life restoring God's image.
It exposes as vain the thoughts and plans of those counted wise in financial and business matters, for the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God and He takes the wise in their own craftiness. Human ability and effort cannot succeed independently of God, and efforts to gain worldly favor, influence, or human support are of no value when they lead to dependence on human support rather than God. Those who give their lives to worldly pursuits and cultivate sharp traits become too worldly-wise, with whole tenor of life and texture of character after a worldly order, so the preaching of the cross is foolishness to them and they do not come into the truth in large numbers. God has made foolish the wisdom of this world and will destroy the wisdom of the wise and bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent, choosing the foolish, weak, base, and despised to confound the wise and mighty so that no flesh should glory in His presence, while Christ is made unto believers wisdom and righteousness and sanctification and redemption.
Leaning on human wisdom and intellect to devise theories and systems of philosophy instead of learning daily in Christ's school turns from God and places a veil so that He who is invisible is not seen. Depending on finite human wisdom and authority veils sight of Him, and faith and practice need the energizing of the Holy Spirit rather than human compulsion. Men must cease from man whose breath is in his nostrils and be taught of God. Personally applied, the verse shows that many who think they are prepared for the Lord's coming are not, and calls each one to separate from all hindrances, to know God's will and walk in that pathway, to confess Christ and come out of darkness into His marvelous light so as to be free and all light in the Lord.
The Lord knows the thoughts of those counted wise in this world, that they are empty and worthless, for worldly wisdom is foolishness with Him and its crafty schemes will not stand when revealed in judgment. It was spoken to reprove jealousy, strife and party loyalty in Corinth, where claiming to belong to Paul or Apollos and withdrawing from some while binding up with others showed carnal minds guided by narrow conceit rather than the mind and Spirit of Christ. Paul and Apollos and Cephas are only servants through whom belief comes as the Lord gave to each, one planting and another watering while God alone gives the increase, so neither is anything and each will be rewarded according to his own labor. No one should deceive himself about being wise in this world or glory in men, in might, riches, skill or theoretical knowledge, but one who seems wise must become a fool in worldly eyes in order to become truly wise, glorying only in the Lord and in knowing Him, with Christ made unto believers wisdom and righteousness and sanctification and redemption. The verse therefore calls for humbled, contrite hearts, sober self-examination, unity without pride, envy or judging of fellow believers, and building only on Jesus Christ as the foundation, whose fire-tried day will manifest every man's work for reward or loss.
Context and Plain Meaning
The Lord knows the thoughts of those counted wise in this world, and those thoughts are vain, empty and worthless. Worldly wisdom is foolishness with God, for He takes and catches the wise in their own craftiness. He sets His face against every work of lording it over His heritage and blows upon all Pharisaical forms and prayers and ceremonies. Worldly schemes and plans, including those counted wise in financial and business matters, will not stand when life is revealed in the judgment, but every man's work will be made manifest when the day declares it by fire that tries what sort it is.
Its setting is reproof of jealousy, strife and factional loyalty in Corinth. Saying I am of Paul and I am of Apollos, withdrawing from some for no reason but imagination while binding up with others, and proudly attaching to a particular human teacher showed carnal minds walking as men and guided by narrow conceit rather than the mind and Spirit of Christ. Such reliance on human wisdom, self-confidence, division, pride and independence cannot justify or guide Christ's followers. Exalting successful ministers, lifting the soul to vanity over planting and watering, taking sides and drawing apart over misconceived opinions is that same vain wisdom, and building in self-confidence after own notions without reference to brethren lays only suppositions and rubbish on the foundation.
Paul and Apollos and Cephas are only ministers by whom belief comes as the Lord gave to each man. One plants and another waters, but God gives the increase, so neither he that plants nor he that waters is anything, but God that gives the increase. He that plants and he that waters are one in object though their work may differ, and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labor. All things are the believers', whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or things present or things to come, for believers are Christ's and Christ is God's.
The verse belongs to the instruction and reproof of 1 Corinthians 1-3 for ministers of the gospel and for all churches wherever they are located. It is to be read in every church and received for the soul's sake in seeking truth and searching the Scriptures. It is to be thought over at home and personally applied together with the rest of 1 Corinthians 2 and 3 for instruction in righteousness, with the promise that God will help the one who so applies it to understand it.
True Wisdom From God
No one is to fool himself about being wise in this world, for the one who seems wise in this world must become a fool in order to become truly wise. Becoming a fool means becoming a fool in worldly eyes and in one's own estimation, being willing to be called foolish by the world for doing right, for many will call a person a fool for this or that, but when it is the right thing to do it should be done. This calls a person to let go of human skill and craftiness and theoretical knowledge, rebukes self-confidence in those forward to speak, and urges them to consider themselves.
No one is to glory in men, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas, nor in human wisdom, might, riches, skill, or craftiness, for worldly schemes will not stand when life is revealed in the judgment. Instead glory is to be only in the Lord and in understanding and knowing Him who exercises lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth. All things belong to believers, the world and life and death and things present and things to come, and believers are Christ's and Christ is God's. Christ is made unto believers wisdom and righteousness and sanctification and redemption, and true faith is faith which works by love and purifies the soul in practical godliness.
Jesus Christ is the only foundation that can be laid, and every man's work built on it will be made manifest. Just as surely as selfishness is woven into work it will be revealed for what it is, for the day shall declare it by fire that tries what sort it is, with reward for work that abides and loss for work that burns. Therefore no one is to lift himself up in exaltation, treat himself as a foundation for others to build on, or take glory in men or in himself. True wisdom comes from God alone, given to those who will make the best use of it. Christ holds all power in heaven and earth, knows who is prepared to act as His helping hand in the closing scenes of this earth's history, sees where wisdom is most needed, and strengthens the minds of His servants to plan and execute for the greatest advantage of His work.
Humility Unity and Obedience
The verse calls for humbled, contrite hearts prepared as a dwelling place for the Most High, and unless hearts are thus humbled before God names will not be placed in the book of life. It requires self-examination rather than reliance on own judgment or on the approval of others, for human reason and self-judgment are not to be trusted. No one is to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, and no one is to lift himself up in exaltation or treat himself as a foundation for others to build on. Supposing oneself superior to fellow men in wisdom lets self take the throne and lets Satan corrupt mind and heart away from the simplicity of the gospel, rousing hereditary and cultivated tendencies to wrong, while the manifestation of genuine humility is the evidence of guarding against the mastery of self. True wisdom comes from God alone, given to those who will make the best use of it, and Christ holds all power in heaven and earth, knowing who is prepared to act as His helping hand in the closing scenes of earth's history, seeing where wisdom is most needed, and strengthening His servants to plan and execute for the greatest advantage of His work.
It forbids pride, independence, exaltation, and judging fellow believers because they do not meet one's own standards of perfection. The jealousy, strife, and factional loyalty at Corinth showed carnal minds guided by narrow conceit rather than the mind and Spirit of Christ, and saying I am of Paul and I am of Apollos, withdrawing from some for no reason but imagination while binding up with others, is walking as men. Paul and Apollos are only ministers by whom belief comes as the Lord gave to each; one plants and another waters but God gives the increase, so neither is anything, planters and waterers are one in object though work differs, and each receives reward according to his own labor, so a minister who emphasizes another phase of truth or presents the Word in a different way should not be condemned. Cherishing discord, prejudice, envy, jealousy, and evil surmisings against brethren repeats that fault, separates from brethren and thus from God, and greatly hinders the Spirit, who will not be sent as Comforter and Strengthener until His people are all of one mind, loving as brethren, pitiful and courteous. Believers are therefore to reject proudly attaching themselves to a particular human teacher and to work in unity, humility, and mutual care.
Christian work is individual, so believers should stop finding fault with another's work and instead improve themselves. God's laborers must not be ordered, controlled, or judged in their duties by other fallible people, but are to seek God's instruction and serve in the liberty God gives. No ruling power should compel obedience to the dictates of the finite mind, for faith and practice must be energized by the Holy Spirit. Exalting successful ministers, lifting the soul to vanity over planting and watering, glorying in men, taking sides and drawing apart over misconceived opinions is vain wisdom. Anyone who in self-confidence builds after his own notions, plans, and desires without reference to brethren lays only suppositions and rubbish on the foundation, and if ministers become exalted for success their light will be removed.
The verse requires keeping the body as God's holy temple undefiled, under penalty of destruction by cause producing effect. It calls for keeping the body in healthful condition as God's purchased property, with clear and active intellect to think candidly and critically, arousing the moral powers to look to Jesus for grace to overcome unnatural craving. It requires total abstinence from alcohol and every indulgence that confuses reason and wars against the soul. It directs the mind away from wrong channels, idle words, and murky waters toward the opening of the Word and its precious treasures, learning all possible from it and doing one's best, and warns against letting Satan work through lower appetites and passions or plant evil seed to be passed to others. For youth it calls to sincere conversion, to bow the will to heaven, to receive forgiveness of sin, and to honor the Creator by a truthful, refined, uplifted life restoring God's image.
It exposes as vain the thoughts and plans of those counted wise in financial and business matters, for the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God and He takes the wise in their own craftiness. Human ability and effort cannot succeed independently of God, and efforts to gain worldly favor, influence, or human support are of no value when they lead to dependence on human support rather than God. Those who give their lives to worldly pursuits and cultivate sharp traits become too worldly-wise, with whole tenor of life and texture of character after a worldly order, so the preaching of the cross is foolishness to them and they do not come into the truth in large numbers. God has made foolish the wisdom of this world and will destroy the wisdom of the wise and bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent, choosing the foolish, weak, base, and despised to confound the wise and mighty so that no flesh should glory in His presence, while Christ is made unto believers wisdom and righteousness and sanctification and redemption.
Leaning on human wisdom and intellect to devise theories and systems of philosophy instead of learning daily in Christ's school turns from God and places a veil so that He who is invisible is not seen. Depending on finite human wisdom and authority veils sight of Him, and faith and practice need the energizing of the Holy Spirit rather than human compulsion. Men must cease from man whose breath is in his nostrils and be taught of God. Personally applied, the verse shows that many who think they are prepared for the Lord's coming are not, and calls each one to separate from all hindrances, to know God's will and walk in that pathway, to confess Christ and come out of darkness into His marvelous light so as to be free and all light in the Lord.