Read & explore together
Wisdom from God
This part of the letter tells readers to look at themselves and then at God’s way of working. It shows that God’s wisdom does not depend on status, strength or human pride.
Understanding the passage
The setting of these words
The passage addresses “brothers” and speaks about their calling. It says not many were wise, mighty or noble by human standards, then explains that God chose what the world counts as foolish, weak, lowly and despised, so that boasting would belong to the Lord alone.
1 Corinthians 1:26–31Main takeaway
God’s way removes human boasting and centres everything on what he has done in Christ Jesus.
Follow the letter’s teaching
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01Look at your callingThe passage begins with an observation about the people being addressed. It says not many of them were wise, mighty or noble “according to the flesh”.
Explanation
The passage begins with an observation about the people being addressed. It says not many of them were wise, mighty or noble “according to the flesh”. That phrase points to human standards and outward measures of importance, rather than God’s assessment.
02God chooses what the world dismissesThe writer repeats that God chose what the world calls foolish, weak, lowly and despised. He also mentions “the things that don’t exist” over against “the things that exist”.
Explanation
The writer repeats that God chose what the world calls foolish, weak, lowly and despised. He also mentions “the things that don’t exist” over against “the things that exist”. The point is to show God overturning human ideas of significance and strength.
03Boasting is silenced before GodThe result of God’s choosing is stated plainly: “that no flesh should boast before God.” Human achievement, status and strength do not give anyone grounds for pride in God’s presence.
Explanation
The result of God’s choosing is stated plainly: “that no flesh should boast before God.” Human achievement, status and strength do not give anyone grounds for pride in God’s presence. The passage presses readers away from self-congratulation and towards humility before him.
04Christ Jesus is wisdom from GodThe passage then gives the positive centre of this teaching. Because of God, believers are in Christ Jesus.
Explanation
The passage then gives the positive centre of this teaching. Because of God, believers are in Christ Jesus. Christ is made to them “wisdom from God”, and also righteousness, sanctification and redemption. These words point to what God has provided in Christ, not what people produce for themselves.
05Boast in the LordThe passage ends with a written saying: “He who boasts, let him boast in the Lord.” If any boasting remains, its proper direction is not self, class or ability, but the Lord.
Explanation
The passage ends with a written saying: “He who boasts, let him boast in the Lord.” If any boasting remains, its proper direction is not self, class or ability, but the Lord. This closing line matches the whole movement of the passage.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01What kinds of people does the passage say were ‘not many’ among them, and why does that matter here?
Notice the three descriptions in verse 26 and connect them with the way God chooses in verses 27 to 29.
02How does the passage describe the things God chose, and what result does it say this has?
List the words used for what God chose, then trace the purpose statements that follow.
03According to this passage, what does Christ Jesus become to believers, and how should that shape boasting?
Read verse 30 carefully, then compare it with the instruction in verse 31.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
1 Corinthians 1:26–31
26For you see your calling, brothers, that not many are wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, and not many noble;
27but 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.
28God 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,
29that no flesh should boast before God.
30Because of him, you are in Christ Jesus, who was made to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption,
31that, as it is written, “He who boasts, let him boast in the Lord.”