I Corinthians 1:28
A plain-spoken deep dive on this verse. Read the chapter →
He chose the lowly and despised things of the world, and the things that are not, to nullify the things that are,
Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
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.
Open source ↗In this chapter we have, I. The preface or introduction to the whole epistle (Co1 1:1-9). II. One principal occasion of writing it hinted, namely, their divisions and the origin of them (Co1 1:10-13). III. An account of Paul's ministry among them, which was principally preaching the gospel (Co1 1:14-17). IV. The manner wherein he preached the gospel, and the different success of it, with an account how admirably it was fitted to bring glory to God and beat down the pride and vanity of men (Co1 1:17 to the end).
Open source ↗Original language
The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).
Cross-references
Other passages the community most often connects to this one. Tap to read.
He shatters the mighty without inquiry and sets up others in their place.
As 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.
The proud look of man will be humbled, and the loftiness of men brought low; the LORD alone will be exalted in that day.
So the pride of man will be brought low, and the loftiness of men will be humbled; the LORD alone will be exalted in that day,
You will seek them but will not find them. Those who wage war against you will come to nothing.
Just 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.
Then 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!
For 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
Among 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.
Many are the sorrows of the wicked, but loving devotion surrounds him who trusts in the LORD.