1 COR 1:21 Parallel Verse View

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Text critical issues=small word differences Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, orange:accusative/object, pink:genitive/possessor, cyan:dative/indirect object, red:negative.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

ULT For since in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, God was pleased to save the ones believing through the foolishness of the preaching.

UST Here is how God has done this. Just as God wisely chose, unbelievers did not get to know God by means of their wise thinking. So, God decided to rescue those who have faith in the Messiah by means of the foolish message that believers proclaim.

BSB For since in the wisdom of God the world through [its] wisdom {did} not know [Him], God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.

MSB For since in the wisdom of God the world through [its] wisdom {did} not know [Him], God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.

BLB For since in the wisdom of God, the world through its wisdom did not know God, God was pleased through the foolishness of the proclamation to save those believing.

AICNT For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, God was pleased through the foolishness of preaching to save those who believe.

OEB For since the world, in God’s wisdom, did not by its philosophy learn to know God, God saw fit, by the “folly” of our proclamation, to save those who believe in Christ!

WEBBE For seeing that in the wisdom of God, the world through its wisdom didn’t know God, it was God’s good pleasure through the foolishness of the preaching to save those who believe.

WMBB For seeing that in the wisdom of God, the world through its wisdom didn’t know God, it was God’s good pleasure through the foolishness of the proclaiming to save those who believe.

NET For since in the wisdom of God the world by its wisdom did not know God, God was pleased to save those who believe by the foolishness of preaching.

LSV For seeing in the wisdom of God the world through the wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the preaching to save those believing.

FBV Since God in his wisdom allowed the world in its wisdom not to know God, it was God's gracious plan that by the foolishness of the good news those who trusted in him would be saved.

TCNT For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through its wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of our proclamation to save those who believe.

T4T God, acting very wisely, made it impossible for unbelievers to know God by doing what they thought was [IRO] wise. Instead, he was happy to save those who trust in Christ as the result of their hearing the message that was proclaimed to them, a message that others consider to be foolish.

LEB For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through its wisdom did not know God, God was pleased through the foolishness of preaching to save those who believe.

BBE For because, by the purpose of God, the world, with all its wisdom, had not the knowledge of God, it was God's pleasure, by so foolish a thing as preaching, to give salvation to those who had faith in him.

Moff For when the world with all its wisdom failed to know God in his wisdom, God resolved to save believers by the "sheer folly" of the Christian message.

Wymth For after the world by its wisdom—as God in His wisdom had ordained—had failed to gain the knowledge of God, God was pleased, by the apparent foolishness of the Message which we preach, to save those who accepted it.

ASV For seeing that in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom knew not God, it was God’s good pleasure through the foolishness of the preaching to save them that believe.

DRA For seeing that in the wisdom of God the world, by wisdom, knew not God, it pleased God, by the foolishness of our preaching, to save them that believe.

YLT for, seeing in the wisdom of God the world through the wisdom knew not God, it did please God through the foolishness of the preaching to save those believing.

Drby For since, in the wisdom of [fn]God, the world by wisdom has not known [fn]God, [fn]God has been pleased by the foolishness of the preaching to save those that believe.

1.21 Elohim

RV For seeing that in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom knew not God, it was God’s good pleasure through the foolishness of the preaching to save them that believe.

SLT For since in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, God was contented by the foolishness of proclaiming to save them believing.

Wbstr For when 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.

KJB-1769 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.

KJB-1611 For after that, in the wisedom of God, the world by wisedome knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishnesse of preaching, to saue them that beleeue.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from punctuation)

Bshps For after that the world through wisedome knewe not God, in the wisedome of God: it pleased God through foolishnesse of preachyng to saue them that beleue.
(For after that the world through wisdom knew not God, in the wisdom of God: it pleased God through foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.)

Gnva For seeing the worlde by wisedome knewe not God in the wisedome of GOD, it pleased God by the foolishnesse of preaching to saue them that beleeue:
(For seeing the world by wisdom knew not God in the wisdom of GOD, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe: )

Cvdl Hath not God made the wyssdome of this worlde foolishnesse? For in so moch as the worlde by the wyssdome therof knewe not God in his wyssdome, it pleased God thorow foolish preachinge to saue them yt beleue.
(Hath not God made the wisdom of this world foolishness? For in so much as the world by the wisdom thereof knew not God in his wisdom, it pleased God through foolish preaching to save them it believe.)

TNT For when the worlde thorow wysdome knew not God in the wysdome of God: it pleased God thorow folisshnes of preachinge to save them that beleve.
(For when the world through wisdom knew not God in the wisdom of God: it pleased God through folisshnes of preaching to save them that believe. )

Wycl For the world in wisdom of God knewe not God bi wisdom, it pleside to God, bi foli of prechyng, `to maken hem saaf that bileueden.
(For the world in wisdom of God knew not God by wisdom, it pleased to God, by folly of preching, to making hem safe that believed.)

Luth Denn dieweil die Welt durch ihre Weisheit GOtt in seiner Weisheit nicht erkannte, gefiel es GOtt wohl, durch törichte Predigt selig zu machen die, so daran glauben,
(Because meanwhile the world through their/her wise_(people) God in his wise_(people) not recognised, liked it God probably/well, through foolish sermon blessed to/for make that, so to_it believe,)

ClVg Nam quia in Dei sapientia non cognovit mundus per sapientiam Deum: placuit Deo per stultitiam prædicationis salvos facere credentes.[fn]
(For/Surely because in/into/on of_God wisdom not/no he_knew world through wisdom God: it_pleased to_God through stupidity preaching salvos to_do believers. )

1.21 Placuit Deo per stultitiam prædicationis salvos facere credentes. Id est crucis fide æternitatem provenire mortalibus: ut ibi salus reperiretur, ubi stultitia creditur.

1.21 Placuit to_God through stupidity preaching salvos to_do believers. That it_is cross/frame with_faith eternaltatem provenire mortals: as there health/safety findretur, where foolishness it_is_believed.

UGNT ἐπειδὴ γὰρ ἐν τῇ σοφίᾳ τοῦ Θεοῦ, οὐκ ἔγνω ὁ κόσμος διὰ τῆς σοφίας τὸν Θεόν, εὐδόκησεν ὁ Θεὸς διὰ τῆς μωρίας τοῦ κηρύγματος, σῶσαι τοὺς πιστεύοντας.
(epeidaʸ gar en taʸ sofia tou Theou, ouk egnō ho kosmos dia taʸs sofias ton Theon, eudokaʸsen ho Theos dia taʸs mōrias tou kaʸrugmatos, sōsai tous pisteuontas.)

SBL-GNT ἐπειδὴ γὰρ ἐν τῇ σοφίᾳ τοῦ θεοῦ οὐκ ἔγνω ὁ κόσμος διὰ τῆς σοφίας τὸν θεόν, εὐδόκησεν ὁ θεὸς διὰ τῆς μωρίας τοῦ κηρύγματος σῶσαι τοὺς πιστεύοντας.
(epeidaʸ gar en taʸ sofia tou theou ouk egnō ho kosmos dia taʸs sofias ton theon, eudokaʸsen ho theos dia taʸs mōrias tou kaʸrugmatos sōsai tous pisteuontas.)

RP-GNT Ἐπειδὴ γὰρ ἐν τῇ σοφίᾳ τοῦ θεοῦ οὐκ ἔγνω ὁ κόσμος διὰ τῆς σοφίας τὸν θεόν, εὐδόκησεν ὁ θεὸς διὰ τῆς μωρίας τοῦ κηρύγματος σῶσαι τοὺς πιστεύοντας.
(Epeidaʸ gar en taʸ sofia tou theou ouk egnō ho kosmos dia taʸs sofias ton theon, eudokaʸsen ho theos dia taʸs mōrias tou kaʸrugmatos sōsai tous pisteuontas.)

TC-GNT Ἐπειδὴ γὰρ ἐν τῇ σοφίᾳ τοῦ Θεοῦ οὐκ ἔγνω ὁ κόσμος διὰ τῆς σοφίας τὸν Θεόν, εὐδόκησεν ὁ Θεὸς διὰ τῆς μωρίας τοῦ κηρύγματος σῶσαι τοὺς πιστεύοντας.
(Epeidaʸ gar en taʸ sofia tou Theou ouk egnō ho kosmos dia taʸs sofias ton Theon, eudokaʸsen ho Theos dia taʸs mōrias tou kaʸrugmatos sōsai tous pisteuontas. )

Key for above GNTs: yellow:punctuation differs (from our SR-GNT base).

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 1:10–2:16: Believers should not divide up into competing factions. They should be united by true wisdom, the message of the cross.

In this section Paul wrote about a serious problem in the Corinthian church. The Corinthian believers were dividing up into competing groups. They were following whichever human leader they admired the most. Paul tried to solve this problem by reminding the Corinthians of the message of the cross. He wanted them to stop following human wisdom and to follow God’s wisdom.

Paragraph 1:20–25

In this paragraph Paul talked more about foolishness and wisdom. The gospel message expresses God’s power and wisdom. For different reasons, both Jewish people and Greek people may reject it. However, to those who believe the message/gospel, it brings salvation from sin and death.

1:21a

For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know Him,

For God in his wisdom decided that wise people cannot know God by means of their own wisdom.
For God very wisely made it impossible for people to know him fully through their own clever thoughts.
For God wisely decided that this world’s people would not be able to know/understand him personally/fully through their own clever thoughts/ideas.

For: The Greek conjunction that the BSB translates as For introduces an explanation of verse 1:20. In 1:20 Paul said that God has shown that wise people’s ideas are of no value in knowing God. In 1:21–25, Paul explained that God proved that the wisdom of people who do not know God/him is really only foolishness.

since: The conjunction since introduces a contrast between the methods God could have chosen to save people. God chose the method “wise” people did not expect. God did not choose to save people by letting them know him through their own wisdom (1:21a), instead he chose to save them through the foolish gospel message (1:21b).

Another way to translate this is:

For God in his wisdom made it impossible for people to know him by means of their own wisdom. Instead, by means of the so-called “foolish” message we preach, God decided to save those who believe. (GNT)

in the wisdom of God: The phrase in the wisdom of God means “it was God’s wise plan.” In some languages it may be more natural to translate this as a verb phrase. For example:

since God wisely decided

as God in his wisdom ordained (REB)

the world through its wisdom did not know Him: This clause indicates human failure. People did not find a way to know God through their own wisdom. Some other ways to translate this clause are:

the world was unable to recognize God though wisdom (NJB)

the world failed to find him/God by its wisdom (REB)

the world: The word world here refers to the world as a system opposed to God. In some languages this figure of speech may not be natural. It may be necessary to explicitly indicate “people.” For example:

the people of this world

through its wisdom: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates as through its wisdom is literally “through wisdom” (as in the RSV). Some English versions have added a word to indicate that Paul referred here to human wisdom. He did not mean the wisdom of God here. For example:

through its wisdom… (NIV)

their own wisdom (GNT)

through human wisdom (NLT)

did not know Him: The phrase did not know Him indicates that people of the world were unable to know God personally or fully.

1:21b

God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.

It pleased God to save those people who believe the good news. He saves them through the foolish message that we preach.
It pleased God to save from punishment those who believe the good news. He used the foolish message that we preach to do this.
It pleased God to save those people who believe the message that we preach/announce. Some consider this message to be foolish.

God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe: This text explains what God did since people could not come to know him through their own wisdom. Another way to translate this is:

Instead, by means of the so-called “foolish” message we preach, God decided to save those who believe. (GNT)

God was pleased: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates as God was pleased here means that God decided to save believers. This phrase also implies that God actually did what he had decided to do.

through the foolishness of what was preached: This is a figure of speech called irony. Paul meant the opposite of the literal meaning of these words. He was not saying that the message he and the other apostles preached was really foolishness. He meant that people who were not saved by the message thought it was foolish.

the foolishness of what was preached: This phrase also does not mean that people thought that the way or manner in which Paul preached was foolish. Rather, people thought that the content, the message itself, was foolish.

Translate this in a way that makes the meaning clear in your language. For example:

we preached what others call nonsense/folly

the message that sounds foolish (NCV)

the nonsense of the Good News we speak… (GW)

what was preached: Although this clause is passive, in some languages it may be more natural to translate it as active. For example, the GW says:

the Good News we speak

General Comment on 1:21a-b

Notice that in 1:21a-b there are two things that God decided. (a) God decided not to let people of this world use their own wisdom to learn about him, and (b) God decided to save only those people who believe the foolish message that was preached. Be sure to show the connection between them. For example:

God was wise and decided not to let people of this world use their wisdom to learn about him.

Instead God chose to save only those who believe the foolish message we preach. (CEV)

For God in his wisdom made it impossible for people to know him by means of their own wisdom. Instead, by means of the so-called “foolish” message we preach, God decided to save those who believe.

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-logic-result

γὰρ

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: ἐπειδή Γάρ ἐν τῇ σοφίᾳ τοῦ Θεοῦ οὐκ ἔγνω ὁ κόσμος διά τῆς σοφίας τόν Θεόν εὐδόκησεν ὁ Θεός διά τῆς μωρίας τοῦ κηρύγματος σῶσαι τούς πιστεύοντας)

Here, For introduces an explanation of how God has turned the wisdom of the world into foolishness ([1:20](../01/20.md)). You could use a word that introduces an explanation in your language or a short phrase that identifies that this verse explains the previous verse. Alternate translation: [That is,]

Note 2 topic: grammar-connect-logic-result

ἐπειδὴ & οὐκ ἔγνω ὁ κόσμος διὰ τῆς σοφίας τὸν Θεόν, εὐδόκησεν ὁ Θεὸς

Here, since introduces the reason for the second half of the verse, which , begins with God was pleased. If it would be helpful in your language, you could make this more explicit or break the two pieces into two sentences and use a transition word that indicates result. Alternate translation: [because … the world did not know God through wisdom, therefore God was pleased]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / possession

ἐν τῇ σοφίᾳ τοῦ Θεοῦ

in the wisdom ¬the ˱of˲_God

Here Paul uses the possessive form to speak of wisdom that God uses when he makes decisions or acts. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the idea behind this form by adding “plans” or “thinking” and translating wisdom with an adjective such as “wise.” Alternate translation: [in God’s wise plan] or [in God’s wise thinking]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / synecdoche

ὁ κόσμος

the world

Here Paul uses the world to refer to the humans that are part of the the world. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning of this word by translating the world with a word or phrase that refers to people who do not believe in Christ, or you could use a phrase like “people of the world.” Alternate translation: [the people of the world]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / possession

τῆς μωρίας τοῦ κηρύγματος

its the foolishness ˱of˲_the proclamation

Here Paul uses the possessive form to speak of preaching that is characterized by foolishness. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the idea behind this form by translating foolishness as an adjective describing the preaching or the content of the preaching. Alternate translation: [the foolish preaching] or [the foolish message that we preach]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / irony

τῆς μωρίας

its the foolishness

Paul describes the preaching as foolishness. He does not actually think his message is foolish. Instead, he speaks from the perspective of the world and its wisdom, because the message is foolish to the world. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express this way of speaking with an expression that indicates that Paul is using irony or speaking from another person’s perspective. Alternate translation: [the so-called foolishness]

Parallel 1 COR 1:21

Section 1:10–2:16: Believers should not divide up into competing factions. They should be united by true wisdom, the message of the cross.

Paragraph 1:20–25

1:21a

1:21b

General Comment on 1:21a-b

Parallel 1 COR 1:21