The “foolishness of preaching” refers to the idea that the message of the Gospel, which may seem irrational or unwise to the world, is the chosen method by which God spreads His truth and salvation (1 Corinthians 1:21). This concept highlights that God’s wisdom often contrasts with human understanding, demonstrating His power through what the world deems foolish.
Scripture
18 For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
19 For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.”
20 Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?
21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe.
22 For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom,
23 but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles,
24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.
25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
The Foolishness of Preaching in the Bible
The “foolishness of preaching” is a profound theme in the New Testament, particularly embodied in 1 Corinthians 1:21, where the Apostle Paul states, “For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe.” This encapsulates a central paradox of Christian faith: the divine wisdom found in the Gospel often appears as folly to those who rely solely on human reasoning and cultural wisdom. The message of salvation through Christ’s crucifixion—a central tenet of Christian preaching—is perceived as absurd by many, especially in a world that values power, success, and rational argumentation over humility and sacrifice.
This idea emphasizes that God deliberately chose to use what seems foolish in human eyes to reveal His divine truth and to demonstrate His sovereignty. In 1 Corinthians 1:27-29, Paul elaborates further, stating that God chose the “foolish things of the world” to shame the wise and the “weak things” to shame the strong, ensuring that no one might boast before Him. Thus, the preaching of the Gospel becomes a transformative act that subverts worldly wisdom, fostering a radical humility among believers and drawing attention to God’s unmerited grace. This contrasts sharply with contemporary society’s pursuit of wisdom and prestige, reminding Christians that true understanding and salvation come from embracing the “foolishness” of the cross, which ultimately leads to a deeper relationship with God.
The motif of the “foolishness of preaching” extends deeply into the teachings of Jesus, where His method of communicating profound spiritual truths often utilized parables and seemingly simple stories that challenged the conventional wisdom of His audience. For instance, the Beatitudes, found in passages such as Matthew 5, exemplify this theme by elevating attitudes and behaviors—such as meekness, mercy, and a thirst for righteousness—that society typically undervalues. In these teachings, what appears to be counterintuitive or even foolish reverberates with divine insight, revealing the upside-down nature of God’s kingdom. Through this approach, Jesus invited His followers to reconsider their understanding of greatness and success, embracing attributes that the world tends to overlook or scorn.
Moreover, the book of Acts demonstrates this “foolishness” in the practical outworking of the gospel message as it spread across diverse cultures and socioeconomic classes. Early Christians, armed with little more than a message deemed foolish and a reliance on the Holy Spirit, engaged in transformative experiences that led to the growth of the Church. Their ability to confound established authorities and societal norms further illustrates God’s strategy of employing the humble, common, and often marginalized believers to proclaim His truth. Thus, the gospel message’s efficacy lies not in the sophistication of its delivery but in the raw power of its content—the proclamation of a Savior who willingly endured ridicule and rejected worldly wisdom, offering redemption to all who accept this “foolish” invitation to faith. Such a perspective not only reinforces the importance of preaching itself but also beckons the believer to engage with and share the gospel boldly, trusting in its power to effect change beyond human understanding.
The Paradox of Divine Wisdom
The concept of the “foolishness of preaching” highlights the paradox that God’s wisdom often contrasts sharply with human understanding. In a world that values intellect, power, and eloquence, the message of the Gospel may appear simplistic or even absurd. This paradox serves to remind believers that God’s ways are higher than human ways, and that true wisdom often comes from embracing what the world deems foolish. It challenges the notion that human reasoning alone can lead to salvation, emphasizing the need for faith and divine revelation.
The Empowerment of the Weak
Another broader meaning of the foolishness of preaching is the empowerment of the weak and marginalized. By choosing to communicate His message through what the world considers foolish, God demonstrates that His strength is made perfect in weakness. This empowers those who feel inadequate or overlooked, showing that they can be vessels for His truth. It underscores the idea that the effectiveness of preaching does not rely on the speaker’s credentials or societal status, but rather on the transformative power of the message itself.
The Call to Humility
The foolishness of preaching also serves as a call to humility for both the preacher and the listener. It invites preachers to recognize that their role is not to impress or entertain, but to faithfully convey the message of Christ. For listeners, it encourages an openness to receive truth in unexpected forms, challenging them to set aside preconceived notions of what wisdom and authority should look like. This humility fosters a deeper connection with God, as individuals learn to value spiritual truths over worldly accolades.
How to Cultivate Humility for a Stronger Faith
Cultivating humility is a transformative journey that can significantly strengthen your faith. It begins with recognizing that we are all imperfect beings in need of grace, just as Paul reminds us in Romans 12:3 to think of ourselves with sober judgment. Embrace the idea that humility is not about thinking less of yourself, but rather thinking of yourself less. This shift in perspective allows you to focus on serving others, just as Jesus did, washing the feet of His disciples (John 13:14-15). Start by practicing gratitude daily; acknowledge the blessings in your life and the contributions of those around you. Engage in acts of service, whether big or small, and let go of the need for recognition. Surround yourself with a community that encourages vulnerability and accountability, where you can share your struggles and learn from one another. Remember, humility opens the door to deeper relationships with God and others, allowing your faith to flourish in ways you never imagined.
Bible References to Foolishness of Preaching:
Romans 10:14-17: 14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?
15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”
16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?”
17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
1 Corinthians 2:1-5: 1 And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom.
2 For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.
3 And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling,
4 and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power,
5 that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.
2 Timothy 4:1-5: 1 I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom:
2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.
3 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions,
4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.
5 As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
1 Corinthians 1:26-31: 26 For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth.
27 But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong;
28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are,
29 so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.
30 And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption,
31 so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”
1 Corinthians 3:18-20: 18 Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you thinks that he is wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise.
19 For the wisdom of this world is folly with God. For it is written, “He catches the wise in their craftiness,”
20 and again, “The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile.”
1 Corinthians 4:9-13: 10 We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are held in honor, but we in disrepute.
10 We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are held in honor, but we in disrepute.
11 To the present hour we hunger and thirst, we are poorly dressed and buffeted and homeless,
12 and we labor, working with our own hands. When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure;
12 and we labor, working with our own hands. When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure;
1 Corinthians 2:6-16: 6 Yet among the mature we do impart wisdom, although it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to pass away.
7 But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glory.
8 None of the rulers of this age understood this, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
9 But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”—
10 these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God.
11 For who knows a person’s thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.
12 Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God.
13 And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.
14 The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.
15 The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one.
16 “For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.
1 Corinthians 1:10-17: 10 I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment.
11 For it has been reported to me by Chloe’s people that there is quarreling among you, my brothers.
12 What I mean is that each one of you says, “I follow Paul,” or “I follow Apollos,” or “I follow Cephas,” or “I follow Christ.”
13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?
14 I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius,
15 so that no one may say that you were baptized in my name.
16 (I did baptize also the household of Stephanas. Beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized anyone else.)
17 For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.
1 Corinthians 1:4-9: 4 I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus,
5 that in every way you were enriched in him in all speech and all knowledge—
6 even as the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you—
7 so that you are not lacking in any gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ,
8 who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
9 God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Rev. François Dupont is a dedicated church minister with a wealth of experience in serving spiritual communities. With a calm and serene demeanor, he has been devoted to sharing the message of love, compassion, and tolerance for over two decades. Through his thoughtful sermons, compassionate counseling, and unwavering support, Rev. Dupont has touched the lives of countless individuals, allowing them to find solace and strength during difficult times. His serene presence and deep understanding of the human condition make him a trusted guide for those seeking spiritual nourishment and guidance.