ACC ~ 1 Corinthians 1 v25

GOD’S WISDOM CONFOUNDS HUMAN REASONING. AMBROSIASTER: When Paul speaks of the “foolishness of God,” he is not implying that God is foolish. Rather he is saying that since God’s way of reasoning is in accord with things of the spirit, it confounds the reasoning of this world. It is wiser than human reasoning, because spiritual things are wiser than carnal ones. Spiritual things do not exist through carnal ones, but the other way around. Therefore carnal things are understandable in relation to spiritual ones. Similarly, what belongs to heaven is stronger than what belongs to earth. So what seems like the weakness of God is not really weak at all. Christ appeared to be defeated when he was killed, but he emerged as the victor and turned the reproof back on his persecutors. COMMENTARY ON PAUL’S EPISTLES.24

CHRIST’S WORLD MISSION CARRIED OUT BY THE UNLEARNED TO EVIDENCE GOD’S POWER. CHRYSOSTOM: The folly and the wisdom spoken of here are more apparent than real. For the philosophers could not achieve what a few unlearned men accomplished, namely, the conversion of the whole world. The philosophers spoke about trivialities and convinced only a few. The apostles spoke about God, righteousness and judgment and converted a great many. HOMILIES ON THE EPISTLES OF PAUL TO THE CORINTHIANS 4.6.25

THE GOSPEL TRUTH. AUGUSTINE: There is no way that this gospel truth could have been made acceptable to some philosophers and debaters. They follow a way of life that does not stand in the truth but is only an imitation of it. They deceived themselves and others. LETTER 120, TO CONSENTIUS.26