Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary 1 Corinthians 1:25

"Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men." — 1 Corinthians 1:25 (ASV)

In contrast, Paul states that God has his chosen ones, the “called” (GK 3105), from both the Jews and Gentiles. Paul has preached to such people about God’s effective power to save them and his wise plan through Christ to bring this about. He then uses a kind of paradoxical hyperbole to present the greatness of God’s wisdom: God has foolishness, God has weakness! What Paul means is that God’s smallest, least significant thought is more worthwhile than the wisest plans of all humankind. And God’s seemingly insignificant expression of his creative and providential power, such as the coming of the dew or the unfolding of a leaf, is greater and more effective than the mightiest thoughts and acts of people. God has complete control and fully accomplishes his purposes, while the power, acts, and thoughts of human beings are in comparison as nothing.