1 Corinthians 1:25

[Ave Maria]

[bible]1 Corinthians 1:25[/bible]

How can God be foolish or weak? This verse confuses me! Help!

 

[ischus]

It is Paul's sarcasm.

Read: The "foolishness" of God is wiser than man's "wisdom" and the "weakness" of God is stronger than men's "strength."

 

[Ave Maria]

Paul uses sarcasm? I didn't think any of the Bible writers used sarcasm when they wrote.

 

[ischus]

oh yeah- Paul uses it a lot, actually. There is sarcasm in many places in the Bible. It is an effective way of communication, as you know.

 

[Rafael]

Paul was a man and used sarcasm - not a big surprise!? Jesus used irony and humor too, as with the camel going through the eye of a needle being more difficult than a rich man entering heaven...sarcasm is a form of humor and ironic wit.

 

[Glisten]

When I read that verse it seemed to me Paul was being humorous, or perhaps sarcastic. Even if he was, he was only human, after all. We all get that way at times, especially when we are tired of arguing with people!

 

[Trench777]

It's a figurative statement, like saying "Walter Payton had more running ability in his little finger, than I have in my whole body"

Did W.P. have any running ability in his little finger? No.

Did it get the point across about our comparative running skills? Yep.

Being a reader of The Word, I'm sure you realise God uses figurative statements with frequency.

That's my take on it.

T777

 

[jbarcher]

In the rest of Paul's letters...when you see an eta, (n), which is generally translated "or", that gets to mocking, in places. Like, "Hah! did you really think this..."

 

[Ave Maria]

Ah ok. Thank you all so much for the info. I truly was ignorant about this subject. Thanks!

 

[Keith Van Horn]

Paul uses sarcasm? I didn't think any of the Bible writers used sarcasm when they wrote.

In job when job is talking to God , God clearly uses sarcasm to talk to Job about how small Job is compared to God. I think the bible writers used plenty of sarcasm.

 

[tqpix]

Also, in Genesis, God asked Cain where his brother Abel was knowing full well that Cain killed Abel; this is sarcasm. Notice how God didn't wait for Cain's response as to the whereabouts of Abel before declaring judgment on him:

[bible]Genesis 4:9-10[/bible]

 

[Ave Maria]

In job when job is talking to God , God clearly uses sarcasm to talk to Job about how small Job is compared to God. I think the bible writers used plenty of sarcasm.

Yeah, I believe they did as well. After all, they were just human!

 

[YahwehLove]

Paul uses sarcasm? I didn't think any of the Bible writers used sarcasm when they wrote.

uh
This is one of my issues.
Paul DID use sarcasm quite a bit.
Not nasty sarcasm, but more like making things a bit ''ironic''.

 

[YahwehLove]

oh yeah- Paul uses it a lot, actually. There is sarcasm in many places in the Bible. It is an effective way of communication, as you know.

amen.
When the situation requires it, it is a perfect tool.

 

[andy153]

Paul was a man and used sarcasm - not a big surprise!? Jesus used irony and humor too, as with the camel going through the eye of a needle being more difficult than a rich man entering heaven...sarcasm is a form of humor and ironic wit.

I'm afraid you have lost me there What is ironic, humorous or indeed sarcastic about this ?

with love and respect, andy153

 

[filosofer]

Perhaps the classic statement of sarcasm (often muted in English translation) is Galatians 5:12:

"Would that those who are troubling you would even castrate themselves."

In other words, if cutting of flesh (in circumcision) is of value, then why stop with the foreskin - cut the whole thing off!! At least then they would be consistent.

 

[tqpix]

Paul was a man and used sarcasm - not a big surprise!? Jesus used irony and humor too, as with the camel going through the eye of a needle being more difficult than a rich man entering heaven...sarcasm is a form of humor and ironic wit.

I'm afraid you have lost me there What is ironic, humorous or indeed sarcastic about this ?

with love and respect, andy153

I'm sure he meant that a camel going through the eye of a needle being easier than a rich man entering heaven.