1 Corinthians 1:28

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 1:28

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

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

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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 1:1-31

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 1:18-31

How St. Paul regarded the preaching of the gospel. By an easy movement he advances to the gospel, to the mode of preaching it as essential to its Divine success, and thus reaches the climax of his reasoning in the first chapter. Other functions of his apostleship will come hereafter into view—the resolute disciplinarian, the firm, administrator, the tender but unyielding executive of the Head of the Church. At present, however, one thing absorbs him, namely, the Divine institution of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 1:26-29

God destroying the conventionally great by the conventionally contemptible. "For ye see your calling, brethren," etc. These verses remind us of two facts. I. EVIL EXISTS HERE UNDER CONVENTIONALLY RESPECTABLE FORMS , Evil is spoken of in these verses as the "wise" and the "mighty." In Corinth dangerous errors wore the costume of wisdom. Power was also on their side. Sages, poets, artists, statesmen, wealth, and influence stood by them, and they appeared "mighty." Men in... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 1:26-29

The humble status of the Church. I. THE FACT . Not many wise after the flesh, mighty, noble, numbered amongst the adherents of Christianity. This was true in apostolic days; it is largely true in our own. Christianity was not established by world power. The Founder and his disciples were poor and of humble social position, and in the ranks of the early Christians were comparatively few possessing means, learning, or rank. Christianity has not been preserved or promulgated by... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 1:26-31

The method of God in the spread of the gospel. read more

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