Commentaries:
Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown
Where--nowhere; for God "brings them to naught" (1 Corinthians 1:19).
the wise--generally.
the scribe--Jewish [ALFORD].
the disputer--Greek [ALFORD]. Compare the Jew and Greek of this world contrasted with the godly wise, 1 Corinthians 1:22-23. VITRINGA thinks the reference is to the Jewish discourses in the synagogue, daraschoth, from a Hebrew root "to dispute." Compare "questions," Acts 26:3; Titus 3:9. If so, "wise" refers to Greek wisdom (compare 1 Corinthians 1:22). Paul applies Isaiah 33:18 here in a higher sense; there the primary reference was to temporal deliverance, here to external; 1 Corinthians 1:22, which is in threefold opposition to 1 Corinthians 1:18 there, sanctions this higher application; the Lord in the threefold character being the sole ground of glorying to His people.
of this world . . . of this world--rather, "dispensation (or age) . . . world"; the Greek words are distinct. The former is here this age or worldly order of things in a moral point of view, as opposed to the Christian dispensation or order of things. The latter is the world viewed externally and cosmically.
made foolish--shown the world's philosophy to be folly, because it lacks faith in Christ crucified [CHRYSOSTOM]. Has treated it as folly, and not used its help in converting and saving men (1 Corinthians 1:26-27) [ESTIUS].
Other commentary entries containing this verse:
Jeremiah 50:36
Ezekiel 13:3
Daniel 7:12
Acts 10:36-38
1 Corinthians 1:5
1 Corinthians 1:30
1 Corinthians 2:6-7
1 Corinthians 3:18
1 Corinthians 11:16
2 Corinthians 10:12
Ephesians 1:8
1 Timothy 1:15
Titus 2:12
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