Worldly wisdom is foolishness to God 1 Cor 3:18-23

Introduction

Have you ever trusted in something that looked reliable on the surface—but later found out it couldn’t hold you? Maybe it was a ladder with a shaky leg, a friendship that fell apart under pressure, or advice that sounded right but led to regret. That’s what it’s like to lean on the wisdom of the world. It often appears strong, persuasive, and even respectable—but in the end, it can leave us standing on a crumbling foundation.

The church in Corinth struggled with this very issue. Surrounded by a culture that prized eloquence, status, and philosophical brilliance, they began to divide themselves based on human leaders—Paul, Apollos, Cephas—each claiming superiority based on who seemed wisest or most impressive. But Paul writes to remind them—and us—that the wisdom of the world is not the same as the wisdom of God. In fact, what the world exalts, God often exposes as foolish.

In 1 Corinthians 3:18–23, Paul lovingly warns the church to stop deceiving themselves—to stop exalting men, to stop trusting in worldly standards of wisdom, and to remember that everything they have is because of Christ. God sees the thoughts of our hearts, and He knows when our confidence has drifted from Him to human glory.

Believers must guard against prideful trust in worldly wisdom and instead pursue God's wisdom, knowing that He sees our hearts and calls us to only glory in Christ.

Jesus is the source of wisdom vs. 18-20

Paul begins with a warning to the church at Corinth

Let no man deceive himself vs. 18a

In the church at Corinth along with the other churches the Apostle Paul wrote, he would give them a strong warning against those who wanted to deceive the church.

He would often warn against false prophets and those who would try to divide and destroy the church

Ephesians 5:6 “6 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.”

Notice here though that Paul is warning them to not deceive themselves

The word deceive means “To mislead the mind; to cause to err; to cause to believe what is false, or disbelieve what is true; to impose on; to delude.”

They were used to warnings about others, but here Paul is warning them about themselves.

How many of us have deceived ourselves into believing something that wasn’t true. Maybe its that the sin we are committing isn’t that bad. I believe many people have deceived themselves in Pauls day, but also in our day, and the further we get from absolutes the worse it is.

Paul tells them to forsake the wisdom of the world to become wise vs. 18b

There were some in the church that were wise by the worlds standards.

The Greek word for world here is kosmos which here means “The present world system — especially its values, philosophies, and wisdom apart from God.”

Paul uses kosmos here to represent human wisdom that is rooted in pride, self-sufficiency, and independence from God—the very things that caused division in the Corinthian church.

In Proverbs 3:7 Solomon the wisest man on earth writes “7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: Fear the Lord, and depart from evil.”

He’s calling believers to reject the wisdom of the world and embrace what the world sees as “foolish”—the gospel of Christ as we saw in 1 Corinthians 1.

The worlds wisdom is foolishness to God vs. 19

Humans continue to get smarter and smarter, but it seems the smarter they get in worldly wisdom the further they get from God

Paul in Romans 1:21-25, tells us about this.

Romans 1:21–25 “21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. 24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: 25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.”

He quotes Job 5:13 to drive the point home

This verse is spoken by Eliphaz, one of Job’s three friends, during his first speech (Job 4–5). Eliphaz is trying to explain Job’s suffering, and he assumes that Job must have done something wrong to deserve it.

In Job 5:13, Eliphaz is saying:“God outsmarts the ‘wise’—those who think they can live without Him or manipulate their way through life—and brings their plans to ruin.”

The statement is true in general, but Eliphaz misapplies it.

Job is not being judged for sin—God had already declared Job to be blameless and upright

Our wisest thoughts are vain to God

Paul quotes Psalm 94:11 directly to reinforce his argument in 1 Corinthians 3

The Corinthian church was boasting in human leaders and wisdom (Paul, Apollos, etc.).

Paul reminds them that God sees right through worldly wisdom.

Even the best human thinking, apart from God, is empty (“vain”) in His sight.

No matter how smart we are by the worlds standards, without God, that wisdom is foolishness and vain (empty or worthless)

James tells us in James 1:5 “5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.”

Seek the Lord for wisdom not mans vain Philosophy and Values

Jesus is the object of our glory vs. 21-23

Because our wisdom comes from Christ, we can glory in no man vs. 21a

The Prophet Jeremiah tells us where we should Glory

Jeremiah 9:23–24 “23 Thus saith the Lord, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, Neither let the mighty man glory in his might, Let not the rich man glory in his riches: 24 But let him that glorieth glory in this, That he understandeth and knoweth me, That I am the Lord which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: For in these things I delight, saith the Lord.”

The Psalmest tells us to trust in the Lord and not man

Psalm 118:8 “8 It is better to trust in the Lord Than to put confidence in man.”

The church at Corinth loved to glory in people, after Pauls greeting in the first chapter, he immediately rebukes them for their division and reminded them about whose they were and that is they belong to Christ

Paul is restating the thought behind 1 Corinthians 1:31 “31 That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.”

Paul reminds them of a great truth “All things are yours”

One commentator wrote it this way “What an amazing statement of the blessings and wealth the believer has in Christ! God has made all unsinful things for our blessing, good, joy, and pleasure.”

2 Corinthians 4:5–6 “5 For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake. 6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”

Look at the list Paul provided

Paul, Apollos, or Cephas

All of these teachers were servants for the churches benefit.

Paul was the great missionary to the Gentiles, who preached the Gospel throughout the world and wrote 13 letters which are still being preached and taught today.

Apollos the Alexandrian prince of preachers is theirs. With all his eloquence, rhetorical skill, brilliance, and apologetical gifting, he belongs to them and to all of us.

Cephas or Peter one of the inner circle of Jesus, is theirs. His life and perspective coloring the Gospel of Mark, his two letters building up the church, his humanity and frailty, his powerful preaching and miraculous works belong to them and to all of us.

The world

Romans 8:17–22 “17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. 18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. 19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. 20 For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, 21 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.”

Life

The new life we have in Christ

Philippians 1:21 “21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”

Death

Death no longer has dominion over the believer, but instead Christ holds the key to death

Things present or things to come

Romans 8:38–39 “38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Paul ends with a final reminder that without Christ we have nothing, but through Christ we have everything.

1 Corinthians 15:28 “28 And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.”

Conclusion

As we come to the end of this passage, the apostle Paul leaves no room for confusion. The wisdom of this world—though impressive to the eyes and ears—has no eternal value. It’s fleeting. It’s shallow. And when we begin to trust in it, we deceive ourselves. But God, who knows our hearts, calls us to something far greater.

He invites us to build our lives not on the shifting sands of culture or charisma, but on the unshakable foundation of Christ alone. He reminds us that all things—life, death, the present, the future—are ours because we are His. We don't need to boast in people or cling to worldly accolades. We belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God.

So what’s the takeaway?

Don’t be impressed with human wisdom. Don’t place your confidence in titles, intellect, popularity, or worldly success. Instead, fix your heart on the One who became "foolish" in the eyes of men to make you truly wise—Jesus Christ, crucified and risen.