Commentary on the Epistles to the Corinthians John Calvin
Commentary on the Corinthians more noble than man's reason, in which man excels the other animals? How richly deserving of honor are the liberal sciences, which polish man, so as to give him the dignity of true humanity! Besides this, what distinguished and choice fruits they produce! Who would not extol with the highest commendations civil prudence 88 (not to speak of other things,) by which governments, principalities, and kingdoms are maintained? A solution of this question, I say, is opened up to view from the circumstance, that Paul does not expressly condemn either man's natural perspicacity, or wisdom acquired from practice and experience, or cultivation of mind attained by learning; but declares that all this is of no avail for acquiring spiritual wisdom. And, certainly, it is madness for any one, confiding either in his own acuteness, or the assistance of learning, to attempt to fly up to heaven, or, in other words, to judge of the secret mysteries of the kingdom of God, 89 or to break through (Exodus 19:21) to a discovery of them, for they are hid from human view.
Let us, then, take notice, that we must restrict to the specialities of the case in hand what Paul here teaches respecting the vanity of the wisdom of this world — that it rests in the mere elements of the world, and does not reach to heaven. In other respects, too, it holds true, that without Christ sciences in every department are vain, and that the man who knows not God is vain, though he should be conversant with every branch of learning. Nay more, we may affirm this, too, with truth, that these choice gifts of God — expertness of mind, acuteness of judgment, liberal sciences, and acquaintance with languages, are in a manner profaned in every instance in which they fall to the lot of wicked men.
1 Corinthians 1:21-25
1 Corinthians 1:21-25 21. For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.
21. Quoniam enim in sapientia Dei non cognovit mundus per sapientiam Deum, placuit Deo per stultitiam praedicationis salvos facere credentes.
22. For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: 22. Siquidem et Judaei signum petunt et Graeci sapientiam quaerunt. 23. But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;
23. Nos autem praedicamus Christum crucifixum, Judaeis quidem scandalum, Graecis autem stultitiam:
24. But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.
24. Ipsis autem vocatis, tam Judaeis, quam Graecis, Christum Dei poten-
88"La prudence civile, c'est a dire la science des lois;" — "Civil prudence, that is to say, the science of laws."
89See Institutes, volume 1. — Ed.