1 Corinthians 1:18-21 - Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

The preaching of the cross The doctrine of the crucifixion of the Son of God, to expiate the sins of mankind, and procure salvation for such as should believe in him; is to them that perish By obstinately rejecting the only name whereby they can be saved; foolishness Accounted an absurd, ridiculous, and impossible thing, and what no men of sense will believe; but unto us who are saved That is, believe in order to salvation; it is the power of God The great instrument whereby his power regenerates, sanctifies, and finally saves us. For, &c. As if he had said, It appears that this is the only means of salvation, because all other ways of man's own invention are ineffectual; it is written And the words are remarkably applicable to this great event, (see the note on Isaiah 29:14,) I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, &c. That carnal and worldly wisdom, which they so much confide in and boast of, as to despise the doctrine of the gospel, shall be of no advantage to them for their salvation. Where is the wise, &c. The deliverance of Judea from Sennacherib is what Isaiah refers to in these words, (see note on Isaiah 33:18;) in a bold and beautiful allusion to which, the apostle, in the clause that follows, triumphs over all the opposition of human wisdom, to the victorious gospel of Christ. What could the wise men of the Gentiles do against this? Or the Jewish scribes? Or the disputers of this world? Those among both, who, proud of their acuteness, were fond of controversy, and thought they could confute all opponents. Hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world That is, shown it to be very foolishness? For after that Since it came to pass, that in the wisdom of God According to his wise disposals, leaving them to make the trial; the world Whether Jewish or Gentile, by all its boasted wisdom knew not God Though the whole creation declared its Creator, and though he declared himself by his servants the prophets, the heathen were not brought to the true saving knowledge of God, and the generality of the Jews did not attain that spiritual, experimental, and practical knowledge of him, which entitles to, and prepares for eternal life. It pleased God by the foolishness of preaching By a way which those who perish count mere foolishness; to save them that believe From the guilt and power of sin here, and from its consequences hereafter.