1 Korintus 1:20

1:20 Where is the wise man? Where is the expert in the Mosaic law? ¹  Where is the debater of this age? Has God not made the wisdom of the world foolish?

1 Korintus 2:6

Wisdom from God

2:6 Now we do speak wisdom among the mature, ²  but not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are perishing.

1 Korintus 3:18-19

3:18 Guard against self-deception, each of you. ³  If someone among you thinks he is wise in this age, let him become foolish so that he can become wise. 3:19 For the wisdom of this age is foolishness with God. As it is written, “He catches the wise in their craftiness.” ⁴ 

[1:20]  ¹ tn Grk “the scribe.” The traditional rendering of γραμματεύς (grammateu") as “scribe” does not communicate much to the modern English reader, for whom the term might mean “professional copyist,” if it means anything at all. The people referred to here were recognized experts in the law of Moses and in traditional laws and regulations. Thus “expert in the Mosaic law” comes closer to the meaning for the modern reader.

[2:6]  ² tn In extrabiblical literature this word was applied to an initiate of a mystery religion (BDAG 995 s.v. τέλειος 3, gives numerous examples and states this was a technical term of the mystery religions). It could here refer to those who believed Paul’s message, the mystery of God (v. 1), and so be translated as “those who believe God’s message.”

[3:18]  ³ tn Grk “let no one deceive himself.”

[3:19]  ⁴ sn A quotation from Job 5:13.