For since in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.
All Commentaries on 1 Corinthians 1:21 Go To 1 Corinthians 1
Cornelius a Lapide
AD 1637
For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. Mark the phrase, "in the wisdom of God," God shows His wisdom in the marvellous structure and government of the world, as S. Thomas says. In other words, the world in its foolishness knew not God practically in His wisdom stamped on His Creation, as the Author of its salvation, and Leader to a life of bliss; nor yet speculatively, because philosophers regarded God as powerless to create; they thought Him to act under necessity, and to be void of providence, &c.
Hence it is that God has revealed Himself and His salvation to the world in a way which seems to the world foolishness, viz, by the Cross. He has thus stooped to men, and become as or were foolish among them; just as a teacher will sometimes act as a boy, and talk as a boy, amongst boys. So Christ, because He was not understood as God, revealed Himself to men, as a Prayer of Manasseh , and one liable to suffering. This is wisdom unspeakable. See S, Thomas, Anselm, and others.
