Ministry of Grace Church

and again, "The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile."

Truth to Learn

God’s way is the only way to present God’s truths.

Behind the Words

The word translated “again” is palin. This is probably derived from pale, which refers to a back-and-forth struggle. Palin means “again” or “once more.”

“Thoughts” is from dialogismos, which is made up of dia, meaning “through” but used here as an intensifier and a form of logidzomai (from which we get our English word logic), meaning “to reason” or “to consider.” Hence, dialogismos refers to the notion of “thinking through a plan or scheme.”

The word “futile” is translated from the Greek word mataios, which refers to activity that has no purpose (it is meaningless) or that is useless or futile.

Meaning Explained

Paul now employs another quotation from the Old Testament. It is Psalms 94:11, which says:

The LORD knows the thoughts of man, that they are futile.

If you look at the context of this quotation, you will see that the writer is talking about the LORD’s vengeance against proud and wicked men. It starts off with:

O LORD God, to whom vengeance belongs— O God, to whom vengeance belongs, shine forth! Rise up, O Judge of the earth; render punishment to the proud. LORD, how long will the wicked, how long will the wicked triumph? They utter speech, and speak insolent things; all the workers of iniquity boast in themselves. (Psalms 94:1-4)

This is a very apt description of the teachers in the church in Corinth who had adopted the methods of the sophists in order to attract the admiration of those they were teaching. If you look at the verses immediately following the one Paul quoted here, it says:

Blessed is the man whom You instruct, O LORD, and teach out of Your law, that You may give him rest from the days of adversity, until the pit is dug for the wicked. For the LORD will not cast off His people, nor will He forsake His inheritance. But judgment will return to righteousness, and all the upright in heart will follow it. (Psalms 94:12-15)

Those people in the Corinthian church who knew their Scriptures would have immediately recognized what Paul was saying. This is a poignant criticism aimed directly at the teachers. It is as if Paul were saying to them, “If you know your Scripture, you will recognize what God says about those who follow the ways of the world. Such methods of teaching are useless and only God’s ways and God’s truth will prevail.”

Application

You who teach God’s word, do not rely on your speaking skills or worldly methods when you teach other Christians. Rely on God’s truth, presented in a plain and simple manner letting God produce the fruit and He will get all the praise and glory.