Back to 1 Corinthians 1

1 Corinthians 1:27-29

but God chose the foolish things of the world that he might put to shame those who are wise. God chose the weak things of the world that he might put to shame the things that are strong. God chose the lowly things of the world, and the things that are despised, and the things that don’t exist, that he might bring to nothing the things that exist, that no flesh should boast before God.

World English Bible · Public Domain
Show the surrounding paragraph

1 Corinthians 1:27-29 sits inside this longer paragraph.

For you see your calling, brothers, that not many are wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, and not many noble; but God chose the foolish things of the world that he might put to shame those who are wise. God chose the weak things of the world that he might put to shame the things that are strong. God chose the lowly things of the world, and the things that are despised, and the things that don’t exist, that he might bring to nothing the things that exist, that no flesh should boast before God. Because of him, you are in Christ Jesus, who was made to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption: that, as it is written, “He who boasts, let him boast in the Lord.”

Read all of 1 Corinthians 1 →

Parallel Translations

  • WEB World English Bible

    but God chose the foolish things of the world that he might put to shame those who are wise. God chose the weak things of the world that he might put to shame the things that are strong.

    God chose the lowly things of the world, and the things that are despised, and the things that don’t exist, that he might bring to nothing the things that exist,

    that no flesh should boast before God.

  • TYNDALE Tyndale New Testament (1534)

    but God hath chosen the folysshe thinges of the worlde to confounde the wyse. And God hath chosyn the weake thinges of the worlde to confounde thinges which are mighty.

    And vile thinges of the worlde and thinges which are despysed hath God chosen yee and thinges of no reputacion for to brynge to nought thinges of reputacion

    that no flesshe shulde reioyce in his presence.

Show all 3 translations
  • GNV Geneva Bible (1599)

    But God hath chosen the foolish thinges of the world to confound the wise, and God hath chosen the weake thinges of the worlde, to confound the mightie things,

    And vile things of the worlde and thinges which are despised, hath God chosen, and thinges which are not, to bring to nought thinges that are,

    That no flesh shoulde reioyce in his presence.

View more translations →

Examined in Scripture Analysis

Contradictions (1)

Questions where the Bible appears to say two different things, with the passages on each side set together.

Explore Contradictions →

Cross-references (46)

  • James 2:5 (v27) Listen, my beloved brothers. Didn’t God choose those who are poor in this world to be rich in faith, and heirs of the Kingdom which he…
  • Matthew 11:25 (v27) At that time, Jesus answered, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you hid these things from the wise and understanding,…
  • 1 Corinthians 1:20 (v27) Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the lawyer of this world? Hasn’t God made foolish the wisdom of this world?
  • Psalms 8:2 (v27) From the lips of babes and infants you have established strength, because of your adversaries, that you might silence the enemy and the…
  • Luke 21:15 (v27) for I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries will not be able to withstand or to contradict.
Show all 46 cross-references
  • Isaiah 29:14 (v27) therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvelous work among this people, even a marvelous work and a wonder; and the wisdom of their…
  • Acts 4:11-21 (v27) He is ‘the stone which was regarded as worthless by you, the builders, which has become the head of the corner.’ There is salvation in no…
  • 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 (v27) for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but mighty before God to the throwing down of strongholds, throwing down imaginations…
  • 2 Corinthians 4:7 (v27) But we have this treasure in clay vessels, that the exceeding greatness of the power may be of God, and not from ourselves.
  • Job 34:24 (v28) He breaks mighty men in pieces in ways past finding out, and sets others in their place.
  • Matthew 21:16 (v27) and said to him, “Do you hear what these are saying?” Jesus said to them, “Yes. Did you never read, ‘Out of the mouth of babes and nursing…
  • Zephaniah 3:12 (v27) But I will leave among you an afflicted and poor people, and they will take refuge in Yahweh’s name.
  • Isaiah 26:5-6 (v27) For he has brought down those who dwell on high, the lofty city. He lays it low. He lays it low even to the ground. He brings it even to…
  • Isaiah 29:19 (v27) The humble also will increase their joy in Yahweh, and the poor among men will rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.
  • Romans 3:27 (v29) Where then is the boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? Of works? No, but by a law of faith.
  • Romans 4:17 (v28) As it is written, “I have made you a father of many nations.” This is in the presence of him whom he believed: God, who gives life to the…
  • 2 Corinthians 10:10 (v27) For, “His letters”, they say, “are weighty and strong, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech is despised.”
  • Isaiah 2:11 (v28) The lofty looks of man will be brought low, the arrogance of men will be bowed down, and Yahweh alone will be exalted in that day.
  • Jeremiah 9:23 (v29) Yahweh says, “Don’t let the wise man glory in his wisdom. Don’t let the mighty man glory in his might. Don’t let the rich man glory in his…
  • Matthew 4:18-22 (v27) Walking by the sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers: Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew, his brother, casting a net into the sea; for…
  • Ephesians 2:9 (v29) not of works, that no one would boast.
  • Matthew 9:9 (v27) As Jesus passed by from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax collection office. He said to him, “Follow me.” He got up and…
  • Acts 24:24-25 (v27) But after some days, Felix came with Drusilla, his wife, who was a Jewess, and sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith in Christ…
  • Job 34:19-20 (v28) He doesn’t respect the persons of princes, nor respect the rich more than the poor; for they all are the work of his hands. In a moment…
  • Luke 19:39-40 (v27) Some of the Pharisees from the multitude said to him, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!” He answered them, “I tell you that if these were…
  • Acts 6:9-10 (v27) But some of those who were of the synagogue called “The Libertines”, and of the Cyrenians, of the Alexandrians, and of those of Cilicia and…
  • Acts 17:18 (v27) Some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers also were conversing with him. Some said, “What does this babbler want to say?” Others said,…
  • Romans 3:19 (v29) Now we know that whatever things the law says, it speaks to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be closed, and all the world…
  • Romans 15:17 (v29) I have therefore my boasting in Christ Jesus in things pertaining to God.
  • 1 Corinthians 1:31 (v29) that, as it is written, “He who boasts, let him boast in the Lord.”
  • 1 Corinthians 4:7 (v29) For who makes you different? And what do you have that you didn’t receive? But if you did receive it, why do you boast as if you had not…
  • Isaiah 2:17 (v28) The loftiness of man shall be bowed down, and the arrogance of men shall be brought low; and Yahweh alone shall be exalted in that day.
  • Isaiah 10:15 (v29) Should an ax brag against him who chops with it? Should a saw exalt itself above him who saws with it? As if a rod should lift those who…
  • Isaiah 41:12 (v28) You will seek them, and won’t find them, even those who contend with you. Those who war against you will be as nothing, as a non-existent…
  • Romans 4:2 (v29) For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not toward God.
  • 1 Corinthians 5:6 (v29) Your boasting is not good. Don’t you know that a little yeast leavens the whole lump?
  • Psalms 37:35-36 (v28) I have seen the wicked in great power, spreading himself like a green tree in its native soil. But he passed away, and behold, he was not.…
  • Psalms 49:6 (v29) Those who trust in their wealth, and boast in the multitude of their riches—
  • Isaiah 17:13-14 (v28) The nations will rush like the rushing of many waters: but he will rebuke them, and they will flee far off, and will be chased like the…
  • Daniel 2:34-35 (v28) You saw until a stone was cut out without hands, which struck the image on its feet that were of iron and clay, and broke them in pieces.…
  • Acts 7:54 (v27) Now when they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed at him with their teeth.
  • Deuteronomy 28:63 (v28) It will happen that as Yahweh rejoiced over you to do you good, and to multiply you, so Yahweh will rejoice over you to cause you to perish…
  • Isaiah 37:36 (v28) Then Yahweh’s angel went out and struck one hundred and eighty-five thousand men in the camp of the Assyrians. When men arose early in the…
  • Daniel 2:44-45 (v28) “In the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which will never be destroyed, nor will its sovereignty be left to…
  • Acts 7:35 (v27) “This Moses, whom they refused, saying, ‘Who made you a ruler and a judge?’—God has sent him as both a ruler and a deliverer by the hand of…
  • Revelation 18:17 (v28) For in an hour such great riches are made desolate.’ Every ship master, and everyone who sails anywhere, and mariners, and as many as gain…

Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)

Explain this passage (21 sources)

Historical commentary, presented as a primary source — not an endorsement.

John Calvin 1540 · Public Domain On vv28–29 28. Things that are not He makes use of…

28. Things that are not He makes use of similar terms in Romans 4:17, but in a different sense. For in that passage, when describing the universal call of the pious, he says, that we are nothing previously to our being called, which must be understood as referring to reality in the sight of God, however we may appear to be something in the eyes of men. Here, the nothingness (οὐδενεια) of which he speaks must be viewed as referring to the opinion of men, as is manifest from the corresponding clause, in which he says that this is done in order that the things that are may be brought to naught For there is nothing except in appearance, because in reality we are all nothing. Things that are, therefore, you must explain to mean things that appear, so that this passage corresponds with such statements as these: —

He raiseth up the poor out of the dunghill, (Psalm 113:7.)

Read full note →

He raiseth up them that are cast down, (Psalm 146:8,)

and the like. Hence we may clearly see how great is the folly of those who imagine that there is in mankind some degree of merit or worthiness, which would hold a place antecedent to God’s choice.

John Calvin's Commentaries (1540-1563) — public domain. Text from the Calvin Translation Society English edition (1840s-50s) via the Christian Classics Ethereal Library (ccel.org). Calvin's coverage is partial (roughly two-thirds of the Bible); uncommented books and verses are honest gaps, never fabricated. The 19th-century editor's footnotes and remarks are omitted so the notes are faithfully Calvin's own voice.

Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain On vv28–29 Which in man’s judgment are almost nothing.
John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain On vv27–29 27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of…
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain On vv27–29 God hath even amongst you chosen persons that are…
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain On vv27–29 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the…
John Wesley 1765 · Public Domain On vv28–29 Things that are not - The Jews frequently called…
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain On vv27–29 Verse 27. But God hath chosen the foolish things]…
Joseph Benson 1811 · Public Domain On v27 1Co 1:27-29. But God hath chosen the foolish things…
Albert Barnes 1834 · Public Domain On vv27–29 But God hath chosen - The fact of their…
Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary 1859 · Public Domain On v29 Glory in his sight. God wished it to be…
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown 1871 · Public Domain On vv27–29 the foolish things--a general phrase for all persons and…
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain On vv27–29 27. God hath chosen—It is a divine revolution; and…
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain On vv27–28 27. to confound] Literally to disgrace, bring to shame.…
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain On vv27–28 (27) Foolish things.—The neuter is used probably for the…
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain On vv27–29 God chose; not, hath chosen out. We may remark,…
B. W. Johnson 1891 · Public Domain On vv27–29 27. But God hath chosen the foolish things. Men…
William B. Godbey 1900 · Public Domain On vv27–29 27. “But God elected out the foolish things of…
J. W. McGarvey 1914 · Public Domain On vv27–29 but God chose the foolish things of the world,…
C. I. Scofield 1917 · Public Domain On v27 kosmos = mankind. (See Scofield "Mat 4:8").
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On v28 what is low and despised
Tyndale Open Study Notes 2022 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On v27 1:27-29 God chose despised and humble people in order…
Share