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

26Remember, dear brothers and sisters, that few of you were wise in the world’s eyes or powerful or wealthy when God called you. 27Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful. God chose things despised by the world, things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important. 29As a result, no one can ever boast in the presence of God. 30God has united you with Christ Jesus. For our benefit God made him to be wisdom itself. Christ made us right with God; he made us pure and holy, and he freed us from sin.

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

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 4:17That is what the Scriptures mean when God told him, “I have made you the father of many nations.” This happened because Abraham believed in the God who brings the dead back to life and who creates new things out of nothing.
• 2 Corinthians 12:11You have made me act like a fool. You ought to be writing commendations for me, for I am not at all inferior to these “super apostles,” even though I am nothing at all.
• 1 Corinthians 2:6Yet when I am among mature believers, I do speak with words of wisdom, but not the kind of wisdom that belongs to this world or to the rulers of this world, who are soon forgotten.
• Deuteronomy 28:63“Just as the Lord has found great pleasure in causing you to prosper and multiply, the Lord will find pleasure in destroying you. You will be torn from the land you are about to enter and occupy.
• Job 34:19He doesn’t care how great a person may be, and he pays no more attention to the rich than to the poor. He made them all.
• Psalms 32:10Many sorrows come to the wicked, but unfailing love surrounds those who trust the Lord.
• Psalms 37:35I have seen wicked and ruthless people flourishing like a tree in its native soil.
• Isaiah 2:11Human pride will be brought down, and human arrogance will be humbled. Only the Lord will be exalted on that day of judgment.
• Isaiah 17:13But though they thunder like breakers on a beach, God will silence them, and they will run away. They will flee like chaff scattered by the wind, like a tumbleweed whirling before a storm.
• Isaiah 37:36That night the angel of the Lord went out to the Assyrian camp and killed 185,000 Assyrian soldiers. When the surviving Assyrians woke up the next morning, they found corpses everywhere.
• Isaiah 41:12You will look in vain for those who tried to conquer you. Those who attack you will come to nothing.
• Daniel 2:34As you watched, a rock was cut from a mountain, but not by human hands. It struck the feet of iron and clay, smashing them to bits.
• Revelation 18:17In a single moment all the wealth of the city is gone!” And all the captains of the merchant ships and their passengers and sailors and crews 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