According to Acts of the Apostles, Paul traveled from Athens to Corinth (18:1). Paul demonstrated the backgrounds of his followers in Corinth many times. For instance, 4:8 he said “already you have become rich!” indicating that the people were not wealthy before his presence or their acceptance of God. 4:11 Paul says “to the present hour we are hungry and thirsty, we are poorly clothed and beaten and homeless, and we grow weary from the work of our own hands” again alluding to a lower social standing based off of their manual labor and poor nutrition. However, before all of that, Paul gives the real indicator to their background; 1:26 he emphasizes they weren’t wise by human standards, indicating low education, that they weren’t powerful or of noble birth, also proving they belong to a lower social class. After Paul left his people in Corinth, he managed to stay in contact with them via letters, messengers, and his own personal visits. He refers to his letters several times (5:9), and since he is writing one to them it would appear that they have had some correspondence. He refers to a “Chloe” at 1:11 who reported to him that the people of Corinth were beginning to factionalize, proving that he has people within the community who either report to him or that he sent. He also makes personal visits, claiming at 2Cor 13:1 that “this is the third time I am coming to you”. His own interactions with the Corinthians must have been important for him to visit them on three separate occasions, again indicating close communications with them. After Paul left, the converts in Corinth experienced some factionalism. At 1:11-12, Paul says that the people claimed to have all different kinds of leaders, from Apollos to Cephas. All of this stemmed from different people within the church believing they were superior to those next to him; yet in Paul’s letter he tries to dissuade this by saying that no one can have as much power and wisdom as God, and that he will forever be the one true leader. Paul also talks of sexual immortality in 5:13, and asks the Corinthian Christians to “drive out the wicked person”.

As Paul discusses the idea of human wisdom versus divine foolishness, he clearly places himself on the side of human wisdom. He claims that divine foolishness is superior to human wisdom, for even at God’s weakest moments, he is still wiser, more humble, more knowing, and more caring than a human at his best. The human wisdom is faulty; it is not eternal or ever knowing, but it is shaky and imperfect. Throughout the two passages, Paul emphasizes that even though a human may be the leader of the people, the wisest of the group, he will never be able to compare to the divinity and perfection of God. God may make what appear to be mistakes, but in the long run they were all apart of his plan, and ultimately God’s actions triumphs over everything. Paul knows that his actions will never compare to those of God, for God will always be wiser, and therefore places himself in the category of human wisdom. He may teach those around him to know and appreciate God, but his actions will never triumph those of God.