Devine Scripture

1 Corinthians 1:28

What does 1 Corinthians 1:28 mean?

A plain-English look at 1 Corinthians 1:28 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What 1 Corinthians 1:28 means

Paul piles up terms—base, despised, and even “things that are not”—to describe those God chooses, so that He might bring to nothing “things that are.” God’s saving work creates something from what the world counts as nothing. This echoes His creative power and His mercy toward the humble. By overturning social hierarchies and expectations, God shows that significance comes from His call, not human rank. The Corinthian church, tempted by status and eloquence, must recognize that God’s economy runs opposite to theirs. In Christ, the overlooked become instruments of His purpose, and the self-assured are unmasked as empty without Him.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

and the base things of the world, and the things that are despised, did God choose, yea and the things that are not, that he might bring to nought the things that are:

KJV

King James Version · 1611

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:

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

and the base things of the world, and the things that are despised, did God choose, yea and the things that are not, that he might bring to nought the things that are:

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And the low things of the world, and the things without honour, did God make selection of, yes, even the things which are not, so that he might make as nothing the things which are:

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

and the base things of the world, and the things despised did God choose, and the things that are not, that the things that are He may make useless--

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And the base things of the world and the things that are contemptible, hath God chosen: and things that are not, that he might bring to nought things that are:

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

and the ignoble things of the world, and the despised, hasGod chosen, [and] things that are not, that he may annul the things that are;

Context

Continuing from verse 27, this verse intensifies the contrast between God’s chosen and the world’s values. It leads directly to verse 29’s purpose clause: that no flesh should boast before God. Then verses 30–31 will shift from who God chooses to what He provides in Christ—wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption—culminating in the only proper boasting, in the Lord. The movement takes the Corinthians from their status obsession to Christ-centered humility and praise.

v.27but God chose the foolish things of the world, that he might put to shame them that are wise; and God chose the weak things of the world, that he might put to shame the things that are strong;

v.28This passage

v.29that no flesh should glory before God.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Isaiah 41:12

    Thou shalt seek them, and shalt not find them, even them that contend with thee: they that war against thee shall be as nothing, and as a thing of nought.

  • Daniel 2:34

    Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon its feet that were of iron and clay, and brake them in pieces.

  • Isaiah 37:36

    And the angel of Jehovah went forth, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians a hundred and fourscore and five thousand; and when men arose early in the morning, behold, these were all dead bodies.

  • Deuteronomy 28:63

    And it shall come to pass, that, as Jehovah rejoiced over you to do you good, and to multiply you, so Jehovah will rejoice over you to cause you to perish, and to destroy you; and ye shall be plucked from off the land whither thou goest in to possess it.

  • Job 34:24

    He breaketh in pieces mighty men in ways past finding out, And setteth others in their stead.

  • Isaiah 17:13

    The nations shall rush like the rushing of many waters: but he shall rebuke them, and they shall flee far off, and shall be chased as the chaff of the mountains before the wind, and like the whirling dust before the storm.

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