FOLLY, idiocy — from mōros, the root of English 'moron' (and of 'sophomore', literally a wise-fool). It is a blunt word, not a polite one: Paul says the message of the cross is not merely difficult or mysterious to outsiders but STUPID, and then declines to argue the charge — 'the foolish thing of God is wiser than human beings'. The related verb mōrainō, 'to make foolish', appears here of God doing it to the world's wisdom (1:20) and in Romans 1:22 of those 'claiming to be wise' having it done to them. → first discussed at 1 Corinthians 1:18