1 Corinthians 1:28 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:

1 Corinthians 1:28 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,

1 Corinthians 1:28 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,

1 Corinthians 1:28 esv

God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are,

1 Corinthians 1:28 nlt

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.

1 Corinthians 1 verses

1 Corinthians 1 28 Meaning

God, in His divine strategy, chose and actively selects those things the world considers low, insignificant, and without value—even those treated as non-existent. He does this with a specific purpose: to nullify, dismantle, and render useless the things that are highly esteemed and recognized in human terms, such as worldly wisdom, power, and status. This radical reversal ensures that all glory belongs solely to God, revealing His wisdom which is contrary to and superior to human wisdom.

1 Corinthians 1 28 Context

1 Corinthians chapter 1 opens Paul's first letter to the Corinthian church by immediately addressing the profound disunity and factionalism within the congregation, largely rooted in human pride, boastfulness about preferred leaders, and an overvaluation of worldly wisdom and rhetorical skill. Paul challenges their misplaced priorities by contrasting human wisdom with God's paradoxical wisdom, culminating in the "message of the cross" (1 Cor 1:18) which appears as "foolishness" to the world but is God's true power and wisdom. Verse 28 specifically elaborates on God's consistent method, established in verse 27 (choosing the "foolish" and "weak" things), by introducing additional categories of societal lowliness: the "lowly," "despised," and "things that are not." Historically, Corinth was a wealthy, influential, and intellectually proud city. The Christian community within it, however, was likely comprised of a majority from the lower social strata—slaves, freedmen, artisans, and those lacking education or societal standing. Paul's message is a direct polemic against the societal norms and values prevalent in Corinth, reinforcing that God’s methods defy human logic and exalt Himself alone, stripping away any basis for human boasting.

1 Corinthians 1 28 Word analysis

• καὶ (kai): "and," "also." This conjunction connects the current statement to the previous verse (1 Cor 1:27), indicating a continuation and amplification of God's strategic choices.
• τὰ (ta): "the." Neuter plural definite article. Specifies "the things" God chose.
• ἀγενῆ (agenē): "lowly," "base," "ignoble," "of no noble birth." Describes those without status, position, or recognition in human society. From a societal viewpoint, they possess no intrinsic worth or standing.
• τοῦ (tou): "of the." Genitive masculine singular definite article.
• κόσμου (kosmou): "world." Refers to the ordered system of human society and its values, often opposed to God. It highlights that these "lowly" ones are so in the world's estimation.
• καὶ (kai): "and." Another conjunction, further linking distinct categories.
• ἐξουθενημένα (exouthenēmena): "despised," "scorned," "treated as nothing." A perfect passive participle of exoutheneo, meaning to completely disregard, count as nothing, treat with contempt. This denotes not just lack of status but active disdain or rejection by others.
• ἐξελέξατο (exelexato): "He chose." Aorist middle indicative of eklegomai, signifying God's deliberate, active, and sovereign choice for His own purposes. It highlights divine initiative.
• ὁ (ho): "the." Nominative masculine singular definite article.
• Θεός (Theos): "God." The active subject and ultimate chooser.
• τὰ (ta): "the."
• μὴ (mē): "not." A prohibitive or qualitative negative, implying a non-reality from a certain perspective.
• ὄντα (onta): "things that are," "things being." Present participle of eimi, "to be." Combined with mē (μὴ ὄντα), it means "the things that are not," or those considered non-existent, of no account, or utterly insignificant by human standards. This takes the degradation a step further than "lowly" or "despised."
• ἵνα (hina): "in order that," "so that." Introduces the divine purpose behind God's choice.
• τὰ (ta): "the."
• ὄντα (onta): "things that are." Refers back to the things esteemed, recognized, and influential in the world's eyes (opposite of "τὰ μὴ ὄντα"). These are the things that "exist" in the world's power structures.
• καταργήσῃ (katargēsē): "He might nullify," "render useless," "bring to nothing," "abolish," "deprive of force." A powerful verb from katargeo, which implies an active bringing to an end or making of no effect. It means God doesn't just bypass the world's powers but actively deactivates or cancels their significance and boasts.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "τὰ ἀγενῆ τοῦ κόσμου καὶ τὰ ἐξουθενημένα" (ta agenē tou kosmou kai ta exouthenēmena): "the lowly things of the world and the despised things." These phrases describe two ascending degrees of worthlessness in human eyes: first, those lacking inherent noble qualities or status, and second, those actively scorned or treated with contempt. These are chosen precisely because they lack what the world values, underscoring God's paradoxical wisdom.
• "ὁ Θεός τὰ μὴ ὄντα ἐξελέξατο" (ho Theos ta mē onta exelexato): "God chose the things that are not." This third category represents the apex of worldly insignificance, people or things deemed utterly non-existent or irrelevant by human standards. It highlights God's radical choice of nothingness from a human perspective. The verb exelexato emphasizes God's sovereign, deliberate, and free act of choosing.
• "ἵνα τὰ ὄντα καταργήσῃ" (hina ta onta katargēsē): "in order that He might nullify the things that are." This phrase reveals the explicit purpose of God's seemingly absurd choice. By using the world's "non-entities," God ensures the dismantling (katargēsē) of the world's valued "entities." This is not merely an inclusion of the humble but a deliberate overturning of human systems of pride, wisdom, and power, ensuring no human can boast before Him (1 Cor 1:29).

1 Corinthians 1 28 Bonus section

• Paradoxical Theology: This verse epitomizes Pauline theology's love for paradox. God uses weakness to display power, foolishness to demonstrate wisdom, and nothingness to bring down everything. This "paradox of strength in weakness" is a recurring theme in Paul's letters.
• Divine Election: It highlights the sovereign nature of God's election. His choice is not based on human merit or perceived worth but solely on His own will and design. This grounds the Christian's identity not in their own accomplishments but in God's prior act of choosing.
• Incarnation Echo: The very act of the Son of God taking on human flesh and enduring the Cross is the ultimate example of God becoming "lowly" and "despised" in human eyes (Phil 2:6-8, Isa 53:3) to achieve the greatest "nullification" of sin and death.
• Call to Humility: This verse serves as a perpetual reminder for the church to avoid succumbing to worldly values of prestige and hierarchy. It underscores that true spiritual power lies in humble dependence on God, not in human accomplishments or social influence. It validates and affirms every believer, regardless of their worldly status.

1 Corinthians 1 28 Commentary

1 Corinthians 1:28 stands as a profound testament to God's distinctive methods and overarching purpose in salvation history. It's a striking counter-cultural statement that challenges every human-conceived notion of power, wisdom, and status. God does not operate by the world's metrics; instead, He actively chooses the exact opposite of what human society prizes. He elevates the "lowly" (those without noble birth or social standing), the "despised" (those actively scorned and disdained), and the "things that are not" (those considered utterly irrelevant or non-existent in the human scheme of things).

The ultimate aim of this divine inversion is to "nullify" (or render useless) "the things that are"—that which the world deems wise, powerful, and significant. This is not passive observation; it is an active dismantling by God of human pride and self-sufficiency. By selecting the obscure and the rejected, God ensures that when His redemptive work is accomplished, no human can claim credit or boast in their own wisdom, strength, or social standing. The glory, the praise, and the credit for salvation belong entirely to God, for His methods expose the emptiness of worldly aspirations and magnify His sovereign power and wisdom through the most unexpected means. This humility, born from acknowledging God's unique power, then becomes the foundation for true unity and identity in Christ for the church.