of the Son of God as a sacrifice for the sins of men. This doctrine, though to one class, viz., those who are lost, i. e. those certainly to perish, foolishness ; yet to another class, viz., those certainly to be saved, it is the power of God. That is, it is that through which the power of God is manifested and exercised, and therefore it is divinely efficacious. All the hearers of the gospel are divided into two classes. To the one, the doctrine of salvation through a crucified Redeemer appears absurd. They are called " the lost," not only because they are certainly to perish, but also because they are in a lost state while out of Christ, John 3, 18. To the other, this doctrine is divinely efficacious in producing peace and holiness. These are called " the saved," not only because they are cer- tainly to be saved, but also because they are now in a state of salvation. Compare 2 Cor. 2, 15.
This verse contains the reason why Christ sent the apostle to preach, and why he preached the doctrine of the cross, and not human wisdom. That reason is, because the doctrine of the cross alone is effectual to salvation. This proposition he proceeds to establish by a series of arguments designed to prove that the wisdom of the world cannot save men. His first argument is derived from the express declaration of the word of God to this effect.
19. For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.
This is not to be considered as the citation of any one par- ticular passage of the Old Testament, so much as an appeal to a doctrine therein clearly revealed. In a multitude of pas- sages, and in various forms, God had taught by his prophets the insufficiency of human reason to lead men to the know- ledge of the way of salvation. In Isaiah 29, 14. nearly the same words are used, but with a more limited application. " The wisdom of the wise," and " the understanding of the prudent," are parallel expressions for the same thing.
20. Where (is) the wise ? where (is) the scribe ? where (is) the disputer of this world ? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world ?
This is a challenge to the wise of every class and of every