1 Corinthians 1:26-31·~1 min

Wisdom from God

Paul tells them to consider their own calling: not many of them were wise, powerful, or noble by human standards. Instead, God chose what is foolish, weak, low, and despised in the world in order to shame what seems strong and important, so that no one may boast before him.

B²⁶rothers, consider the time of your calling: Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were powerful; not many were of noble birth. ²⁷But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. ²⁸He chose the lowly and despised things of the world, and the things that are not, to nullify the things that are, ²⁹so that no one may boast in His presence.

It is from God that they are in Christ Jesus, and in him they have received God's wisdom in the form of righteousness, holiness, and redemption. Therefore the only fitting boast is the one Scripture allows: boasting in the Lord.

³⁰It is because of Him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God: our righteousness, holiness, and redemption. ³¹Therefore, as it is written: “Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.”

Section summaryPaul asks the Corinthians to look at their own calling and notice how few of them matched the world's measures of importance. God's choice of the foolish, weak, and lowly is meant to end boasting in human standing and to place all confidence in Christ, who has become wisdom, righteousness, holiness, and redemption for them.

Role in the chapterThis section brings the argument back to the Corinthians themselves. Their very existence as God's people is evidence that his wisdom works by overturning ordinary status and leaving no room for self-congratulation.