1 Corinthians 1:27-29 ESV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Corinthians 1:17-31

We have here, I. The manner in which Paul preached the gospel, and the cross of Christ: Not with the wisdom of words (1 Cor. 1:17), the enticing words of man's wisdom (1 Cor. 2:4), the flourish of oratory, or the accuracies of philosophical language, upon which the Greeks so much prided themselves, and which seem to have been the peculiar recommendations of some of the heads of the faction in this church that most opposed this apostle. He did not preach the gospel in this manner, lest the... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 1 Corinthians 1:26-31

1:26-31 Brothers, just look at the way in which you have been called. You can see at once that not many wise men--by human standards--not many powerful men, not many high-born men have been called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise men; and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the strong things and God has chosen the ignoble and the despised things of the world, yes, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Corinthians 1:27

But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world ,.... So the Jews, in distinction from their wise Rabbins and doctors, call others, טפשין דעלמא , "the fools of the world" F16 Zohar in Numb. fol. 63. 3. & 65. 4. ; the persons whom God made choice of from all eternity, as appears by his calling them in time, are such who with respect to the wisdom of the world are foolish; have not those natural parts and abilities, that sagacity and penetration in things natural and civil,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Corinthians 1:28

And base things of the world ,.... Who are reckoned the filth of the world, and the offscouring of all things; men of mean birth, education, and business of life: and things that are despised ; and set at nought, as poor persons generally are; yet God hath chosen them; even the poor of this world, rich in faith, and heirs of a kingdom: yea, and things which are not ; some think the Gentiles are here intended, who by the Jews are called "things that are not": as in the apocryphal... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Corinthians 1:29

That no flesh should glory in his presence. That is, "in the presence of God", as some copies, and the Arabic and Ethiopic versions read; not in their blood, birth, families, lineage, and natural descent; nor in their might, power, and dominion; nor in their riches, wealth, and substance; nor in their wisdom, learning, and parts: for however these may be gloried in before men, yet not before God. These are of no account with him, nor will they be regarded by him, or men on account of them;... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Corinthians 1:27

But God hath chosen the foolish things - God has chosen by means of men who are esteemed rude and illiterate to confound the greatest of the Greek philosophers, and overturn their systems; and, by means of men weak, without secular power or authority, to confound the scribes and Pharisees, and in spite of the exertions of the Jewish sanhedrin, to spread the doctrine of Christ crucified all over the land of Judea, and by such instruments as these to convert thousands of souls to the faith of... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Corinthians 1:28

And 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 annihilated the whole Jewish polity; so that... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Corinthians 1:29

That no flesh should glory - God does his mighty works in such a way as proves that though he may condescend to employ men as instruments, yet they have no part either in the contrivance or energy by which such works are performed. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Corinthians 1:28

Verse 28 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... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Corinthians 1:29

Verse 29 29.That no flesh should glory Though the term flesh here, and in many passages of Scripture, denotes all mankind, yet in this passage it carries with it a particular idea; for the Spirit, by speaking of mankind in terms of contempt, beats down their pride, as in Isaiah 31:3 — The Egyptian is flesh and not spirit It is a sentiment that is worthy to be kept in remembrance — that there is nothing left us in which we may justly glory. With this view he adds the expression in God’s presence... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Corinthians 1:17-31

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 1 Corinthians 1:26-31

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Corinthians 1:27

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Corinthians 1:28

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Corinthians 1:29

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Corinthians 1:27

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Corinthians 1:28

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Corinthians 1:29

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Corinthians 1:28

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Corinthians 1:29

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