Paul explains what he means when read in context.
I Corinthians 1:18-27 For the preaching of the cross is to them that
perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of
God. For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and
will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. Where is the
wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath
not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? 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. For the Jews
require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: But we preach
Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks
foolishness; But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks,
Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. *Because the
foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is
stronger than men.* For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not
many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are
called: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to
confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to
confound the things which are mighty;
In other words, the world believes that 'Christ crucified' is foolishness, when it is in fact the wisdom of God. By their wisdom (their learning and reasoning) they reject the wisdom of God, which is so simple that it confounds supposedly learned men.
The scribes, being the few that could actually read the Old Testament scrolls, should have been the ones to recognize Jesus. But instead it was simple fishermen (not many noble, not many wise) that recognized who He was.
Paul's point is that the approach to God is not found through intellectual reasoning and man's wisdom, but God is revealed in such simplicity that the wise of the world stumble.
