THE FOOLISHNESS OF PREACHING - WHAT A PARADOX!
(Nuggets from 1 Corinthians 1:21)
Today's verse highlights a paradox, such that showcases the human perspective and how myopic it is, as compared to the things of the Spirit viewed from the lens of a person whose eyes of understanding have been enlightened.
It is so unfortunate that the world by its wisdom (human/earthly) has failed to attain a knowledge of God in His wisdom which is displayed in creation and through the death of His only begotten son, Jesus.
This provision made by God on the cross is seen and called FOOLISHNESS by those who have chosen ETERNAL DAMNATION, but to those who believe, SALVATION becomes their portion.
God uses the 'FOOLISH THINGS' to confound the wise.
The FOOLISHNESS OF PREACHING here wasn't implying that the GOSPEL IS FOOLISH, but because the things of God and issues pertaining to the Kingdom of God are like FOOLISHNESS to the people of this world, for they cannot understand it.
This was an epistle to the Corinthian church, and at that time, the Greeks were dedicated to a philosophical approach to life, and usually prided themselves in their ability to solve the problems of life by human reasoning and worldly philosophy alone. Their views were opposed to the GOSPEL which Apostle Paul brought their way, and it was necessary for Paul to show the superiority of the GOSPEL.
It is, however, noteworthy that Apostle Paul did not condemn wisdom per se, he condemned the display and the vain exhibition of learning that was so characteristic of the Corinthians.
The point he was trying to make was that Philosophy is powerless to save one individual, but THE GOSPEL, once BELIEVED and OBEYED, can save the world.
The GOSPEL is God's message concerning the cross, the teaching which attributes salvation to the atonement which our Lord made on the cross. This is what the world regards as FOOLISH and, because they will not accept it, they are PERISHING. Whilst some reject the GOSPEL, others, because they regard it as God's way of giving men a lifeline, have accepted it, and are SAVED.
The gospel is "the power of God," (Romans 1:16) because it is God's only instrument through which SALVATION can be appropriated. (Acts 4:12; John 14:6). God's plan, through the gospel, revealed the FOOLISHNESS and EMPTINESS of these philosophical systems.
Apostle Paul referred to "the foolishness of preaching," not to say that the preaching of the cross is foolish in and of itself, but to point out that what men thought of the gospel in that they regarded it as foolishness, was in fact, actually God's way of saving the world from sin!
SALVATION comes by no other means but the FOOLISHNESS OF PREACHING; how much do you rate God's word? Your lifestyle and words would answer this question.
This is HOLINESS CHALLENGE
DAY 106 OF 365 (2026)

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