1 Corinthians 1:28

1 Corinthians 1:28 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:
• New International Version (NIV)God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are,
• English Standard Version (ESV)God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are,
• New King James Version (NKJV)and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are,

Context of 1 Corinthians 1:28

26Brothers, consider the time of your calling: Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were powerful; not many were of noble birth. 27But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly and despised things of the world, and the things that are not, to nullify the things that are, 29so that no one may boast in His presence. 30It is because of Him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God: our righteousness, holiness, and redemption.

1 Corinthians 1:28 word by word

καὶ τὰ ἀγενῆ τοῦ κόσμου καὶ τὰ ἐξουθενημένα ἐξελέξατο ὁ θεός, τὰ μὴ ὄντα, ἵνα τὰ ὄντα καταργήσῃ,Read the interlinear

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• ·θεόςtheos · GodG2316
• choseἐκλέγωeklegomai · to selectG1586
• ·καίkai · andG2532
• lowlyἀγενήςagenēs · lowlyG36
• despisedἐξουθενέωexoutheneō · to rejectG1848
• worldκόσμοςkosmos · worldG2889
• areεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• notμήmē · notG3361
• toἵναhina · in order that/toG2443
• nullifyκαταργέωkatargeō · to abateG2673

Cross-references for 1 Corinthians 1:28

• Romans 4:17As it is written: “I have made you a father of many nations.” He is our father in the presence of God, in whom he believed, the God who gives life to the dead and calls into being what does not yet exist.
• 2 Corinthians 12:11I have become a fool, but you drove me to it. In fact, you should have commended me, since I am in no way inferior to those “super-apostles,” even though I am nothing.
• 1 Corinthians 2:6Among the mature, however, we speak a message of wisdom—but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing.
• Deuteronomy 28:63Just as it pleased the LORD to make you prosper and multiply, so also it will please Him to annihilate you and destroy you. And you will be uprooted from the land you are entering to possess.
• Job 34:19who is not partial to princes and does not favor rich over poor? For they are all the work of His hands.
• Psalms 32:10Many are the sorrows of the wicked, but loving devotion surrounds him who trusts in the LORD.
• Psalms 37:35I have seen a wicked, ruthless man flourishing like a well-rooted native tree,
• Isaiah 2:11The proud look of man will be humbled, and the loftiness of men brought low; the LORD alone will be exalted in that day.
• Isaiah 17:13The nations rage like the rush of many waters. He rebukes them, and they flee far away, driven before the wind like chaff on the hills, like tumbleweeds before a gale.
• Isaiah 37:36Then the angel of the LORD went out and struck down 185,000 men in the camp of the Assyrians. When the people got up the next morning, there were all the dead bodies!
• Isaiah 41:12You will seek them but will not find them. Those who wage war against you will come to nothing.
• Daniel 2:34As you watched, a stone was cut out, but not by human hands. It struck the statue on its feet of iron and clay, and crushed them.
• Revelation 18:17For in a single hour such fabulous wealth has been destroyed!” Every shipmaster, passenger, and sailor, and all who make their living from the sea, will stand at a distance

Commentaries on 1 Corinthians 1:28

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 28And base things - and things which are despised - It is very likely that the apostle refers here to the Gentiles and to the Gentile converts, who were considered base and despicable in the eyes of the Jews, who counted them no better than dogs, and who are repeatedly called the things that are not. By these very people, converted to Christianity, God has brought to nought all the Jewish pretensions; and by means of the Gentiles themselves, he has…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 28And base things of the world - Those things which by the world are esteemed ignoble. Literally, those which are not of noble, or illustrious birth ̀ ̓͂ ta ageiēThings which are despised - Those which the world regards as objects of contempt; compare Mark 9:12; Luke 18:19; Acts 4:11. Yea - The introduction of this word by the translators does nothing to illustrate the sense, but rather enfeebles it. The language here is a striking instance of Paul‘s…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 26-31Verses 26-31 God did not choose philosophers, nor orators, nor statesmen, nor men of wealth, and power, and interest in the world, to publish the gospel of grace and peace. He best judges what men and what measures serve the purposes of his glory. Though not many noble are usually called by Divine grace, there have been some such in every age, who have not been ashamed of the gospel of Christ; and persons of every rank stand in need of pardoning grace…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 27-29God chose humble and overlooked people to show his judgment on human pride (see Romans 3:27; 4:2; 2 Corinthians 4:7–11; 12:8–10; Ephesians 2:9).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2828. yea, and things which are not--Yea is not in the Greek. Also some of the oldest manuscripts omit "and." Thus the clause, "things which are not" (are regarded as naught), is in apposition with "foolish ... weak ... base (that is, lowborn) and despised things." God has chosen all four, though regarded as things that are not, to bring to naught things that are.Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Corinthians 1:28

• Agency
• Boasting
• Humility
• Minister, Christian
• Power
• Preaching
• Predestination
• Reasoning

In the dictionaries

• God
• god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry
• Confirm
• Corinthians, First Epistle to the
• Cross
• Disputer
• Foolishness
• Household
• Join
• Preach

Commentaries on 1 Corinthians 1

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings