1:20 wise . . . scribe . . . debater. It is not clear whether Paul intends a sharp distinction between these three categories. Possibly the first is general in character, while the other two are specifically Jewish scribes and Greek teachers.

this age . . . the world. Much of Paul’s theology is built on the basic opposition between “the present evil age” (Gal. 1:4), or world, which is characterized by “the flesh,” and the coming age, which has already dawned for those who have received the Spirit (10:11; Gal. 5:16, 17; Eph. 1:13, 14; 2:6; Phil. 3:20).