God’s Word Translation
1 Corinthians 1:28
28God chose what the world considers ordinary and what it despises—what it considers to be nothing—in order to destroy what it considers to be something.
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 and sisters, consider what you were when God called you to be Christians. Not many of you were wise from a human point of view. You were not in powerful positions or in the upper social classes. 27But God chose what the world considers nonsense to put wise people to shame. God chose what the world considers weak to put what is strong to shame. God chose what the world considers ordinary and what it despises—what it considers to be nothing—in order to destroy what it considers to be something. 29As a result, no one can brag in God’s presence. 30You are partners with Christ Jesus because of God. Jesus has become our wisdom sent from God, our approval, our holiness, and our ransom from sin.
Read all of 1 Corinthians 11 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
Words taken from the KJV.
- ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- Andκαίkai · andG2532
- base thingsἀγενήςagenēs · lowlyG36
- of the worldκόσμοςkosmos · worldG2889
- which are despisedἐξουθενέωexoutheneō · to rejectG1848
- hathἐκλέγωeklegomai · to selectG1586
- Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
- which areεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
- notμήmē · notG3361
- toἵναhina · in order that/toG2443
- bring to noughtκαταργέωkatargeō · to abateG2673
Cross-references for 1 Corinthians 1:28
- Romans 4:17as Scripture says: “I have made you a father of many nations.” Abraham believed when he stood in the presence of the God who gives life to dead people and calls into existence things that don’t even exist.
- 2 Corinthians 12:11I have become a fool. You forced me to be one. You should have recommended me to others. Even if I’m nothing, I wasn’t inferior in any way to your super-apostles.
- 1 Corinthians 2:6However, we do use wisdom to speak to those who are mature. It is a wisdom that doesn’t belong to this world or to the rulers of this world who are in power today and gone tomorrow.
- Deuteronomy 28:63At one time the Lord was more than glad to make you prosperous and numerous. Now the Lord will be more than glad to destroy you and wipe you out. You will be torn out of the land you’re about to enter and take possession of.
- Job 34:19The one who is righteous and mighty does not grant special favors to princes or prefer important people over poor people because his hands made them all.
- Psalms 32:10Many heartaches await wicked people, but mercy surrounds those who trust the Lord.
- Psalms 37:35I have seen a wicked person ⌞acting like⌟ a tyrant, spreading himself out like a large cedar tree.
- Isaiah 2:11The eyes of arrogant people will be humbled. High and mighty people will be brought down. On that day the Lord alone will be honored.
- Isaiah 17:13The people will make noise like raging water. But the Lord will yell at them, and they will run far away. They will be chased away like husks on the mountains being blown by the wind, like whirling dust being blown by a storm.
- Isaiah 37:36The Lord’s angel went out and killed 185,000 ⌞soldiers⌟ in the Assyrian camp. When the Judeans got up early in the morning, they saw all the corpses.
- Isaiah 41:12You will search for your enemies, but you will not find them. Those who are at war with you will be reduced to nothing and no longer exist.
- Daniel 2:34While you were watching, a stone was cut out, but not by humans. It struck the statue’s iron-and-clay feet and smashed them.
- Revelation 18:17In one moment all this wealth has been destroyed!’ Every ship’s captain, everyone who traveled by ship, sailors, and everyone who made their living from the sea stood far away.
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
In the dictionaries
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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
Commentaries