1 Corinthians 1

1 Corinthians · Chapter 1

1 Corinthians 1:27

1Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother,2Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:3Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.4I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ;5That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge;6Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you:7So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ:8Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.9God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.10Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.11For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you.12Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ.13Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?14I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius;15Lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name.16And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any other.17For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.18For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.19For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.20Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?21For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.22For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:23But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;24But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.25Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.26For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:27But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;28And 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:29That no flesh should glory in his presence.30But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:31That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.

King James Version (1769)

Other translations

VerseKJVBSBASV
27But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.but 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;

In context

Who is speaking and to whom, what is happening, when and where, and why it matters, each with its sources. Coming with the context cards.

Original Greek words

EnglishGreekSay itStrong'sMeaning
ButἀλλὰallaG0235
but

ἀλλά (alla) ἀλλά (ἀλλ᾽ usually bef. α and υ, often bef. ε and η, rarely bef. ο and ω, never bef. ι; Tdf., Pr., 93 f.; WH, App., 146), adversative particle, stronger than δέ; prop. neuter pl. of ἄλλος, used adverbially, with changed accent; hence prop. otherwise, on the other hand (cf. Rom.3:31); …

foolish thingsμωρὰmōraG3474
foolish

μωρός (mōros) μωρός, -ά, -όν [in LXX for נָבָל, etc.; frequently in Sir. ;] 1. prop., of the nerves, dull, sluggish (Hipp., Arist.). 2. Of the mind, dull, stupid, foolish: Mat.5:22 (see Field, Notes, 3 ff.) Mat.7:26 23:17, 19 (T, WH, txt., R, om.) Mat.25:2-3, 8, 1Co.3:18 4:10; of things, παράδοσις, Mrk.7:13 (T, WH, txt., R, om.) : ζητήσεις, 2Ti.2:23, Tit.3:9; τὸ μ. τ. θεοῦ, 1Co.1:25; τὰ μ. τ. κόσμου, 1Co.1:27.† (AS)

worldκόσμουkosmouG2889
world

κόσμος (kosmos) κόσμος, -ου, ὁ [in LXX: Gen.2:1, Deu.4:19 17:3, Isa.24:21 40:26 (צבא), Exo.33:5, 6 Jer.2:32 4:30, Eze.7:20 16:11 23:40 (עֲדִי), Isa.61:10 (כְּלִי), al., Wis.2:24 and freq., Sir.6:30, al ;] 1. order (Hom., Plat., al.). 2. ornament, adornment, esp. of women (Hom., al.): 1Pe.3:3. 3. Later, the world or universe, as an ordered system (Plat., al.): Act.17:24, Rom.4:13, 1Co.3:22, Php.2:15, Heb.4:3, al. 4. In late writers only, the world, i.e. the earth (= ἡ οἰκουμένη, cf. Mat.4:8 with Luk.4:5): Mat.4:8, Mrk.16:[15], Col.2:20, 1Ti.6:7, al.; hence by meton., …

has chosenἐξελέξατοexelexatoG1586
to select

ἐκλέγω (eklegō) ἐκ-λέγω [in LXX chiefly for בָּחַר ;] to pick out, choose. In NT always mid. (exc. Luk.9:35, ἐκλελεγμένος, WH, ἀγαπητός, R, mg.), to pick out for oneself, choose (cf. M, Pr., 157 f.): with accusative of thing(s), Luk.10:42 14:7; with accusative of person(s), Act.6:5 15:22, 25; of Christ (see supr.), Luk.9:35; of Christ's choice of disciples, Luk.6:13, Jhn.6:70 13:18 15:16, 19 Act.1:2; of the Divine choice: of persons, Mrk.13:20, Act.1:24 13:17 15:7, Eph.1:4, Jas.2:5; of things, 1Co.1:27-28 (Cremer, 402, 773).† (AS)

GodθεὸςtheosG2316
God

θεός (theos) θεός, -οῦ, ὁ, ἡ (Act.19:37 only; see M, Pr., 60, 244), late voc., θεέ (Mat.27:46; cf. Deu.3:24, al.), [in LXX chiefly for אֱלֹהִים, also for אֵל and other cognate forms, יהוה, etc. ;] a god or deity, God. 1. In polytheistic sense, a god or deity: Act.28:6, 1Co.8:4, 2Th.2:4, al.; pl., Ac. 14:11 19:26, Gal.4:8, al. 2. Of the one true God; …

thatἵναinaG2443
in order that/to

ἵνα (hina) ἵνα, I. adverb (poët., Hom., al.), 1. of place, where, whither. 2. of circumstance, when. II. Conjunction, 1. prop., final, denoting purpose or end (cl.), that, in order that, usually the first word in the clause, but sometimes (cl. also) preceded by an emphatic word (Act.19:4, Rom.11:31 (?), Gal.2:10, al.); (a) with optative (so in cl. after historic tenses): after a pres., Eph.1:17 (but WH, mg., subjc.; see Burton, §225, Rem., 2); …

He may shameκαταισχύνῃkataischunēG2617
to dishonor

καταισχύνω (kataischunō) κατ-αισχύνω [in LXX chiefly for בּוּשׁ ;] to disgrace, dishonour, put to shame: with accusative of thing(s), 1Co.11:4-5; with accusative of person(s), 1Co.1:27 11:22; pass., to be ashamed: Luk.13:17, 2Co.7:14 9:4, 1Pe.3:16; as in LXX (Psa.22:6 25:2-3, al.), of unfulfilled hopes: Rom.5:5; pass., Rom.9:33 10:11, 1Pe.2:6" (LXX) .† (AS)

wiseσοφούς,sophousG4680
wise

σοφός (sophos) σοφός, -ή, -όν [in LXX chiefly for חָכָם ;] skilled, clever, wise, whether in handicraft, the affairs of life, the sciences or learning: Rom.16:19, 1Co.3:10; of the learned, Rom.1:14, 22, 1Co.1:19-20 1:26-27 3:18-20; of Jewish teachers, Mat.11:25, Luk.10:21; Christian, Mat.23:34; of those en­dowed with practical wisdom, 1Co.6:5, Eph.5:15, Jas.3:13; of God, Rom.16:27; compar., τ. μωρὸν τ. θεοῦ σοφώτερον, 1Co.1:25.† SYN.: συνετός, φρόνιμος (see: σοφία, SYN.) (AS)

andκαὶkaiG2532
and

καί (kai) καί, conj., and I. Copulative. 1. Connecting single words; (a) in general: Mat.2:18, 16:1, Mrk.2:15, Luk.8:15, Heb.1:1, al. mult.; repeated before each of the terms in a series, Mat.23:23, Luk.14:21, Rom.7:12, 9:4, al. (b) connecting numerals (WM, §37, 4): Jhn.2:20, Act.13:20; (with) joining terms which are not mutually exclusive, as the part with the whole: Mat.8:33, 26:59, Mrk.16:17, Act.5:29, al. 2. Connecting clauses and sentences: Mat.3:12, Act.5:21, al. mult.; esp. …

weak thingsἀσθενῆasthenēG0772G
weak

ἀσθενής (asthenēs) ἀσθενής -ές (ἀ- neg., σθένος, strength), [in LXX for עָנִי, etc. ;] without strength, weak, feeble: 1Co.1:27 4:10 12:22, 2Co.10:10, Gal.4:9, 1Th.5:14, Heb.7:18, 1Pe.3:7. Rhetorically, τό ἀ. τ. θεοῦ, God's action of apparent weakness: 1Co.1:25; of bodily debility, sick, sickly: Mat.25:39 (Rec.) Mat.25:43-44, Luk.9:2 (Rec.) Luk.10:9, Act.4:9 5:15-16 In moral and spiritual sense (MM, see word; Cremer, 526), Mat.26:41, Mrk.14:38, Rom.5:6, 1Co.8:7 8:9-10 9:22 11:30.† (AS)

worldκόσμουkosmouG2889
world

κόσμος (kosmos) κόσμος, -ου, ὁ [in LXX: Gen.2:1, Deu.4:19 17:3, Isa.24:21 40:26 (צבא), Exo.33:5, 6 Jer.2:32 4:30, Eze.7:20 16:11 23:40 (עֲדִי), Isa.61:10 (כְּלִי), al., Wis.2:24 and freq., Sir.6:30, al ;] 1. order (Hom., Plat., al.). 2. ornament, adornment, esp. of women (Hom., al.): 1Pe.3:3. 3. Later, the world or universe, as an ordered system (Plat., al.): Act.17:24, Rom.4:13, 1Co.3:22, Php.2:15, Heb.4:3, al. 4. In late writers only, the world, i.e. the earth (= ἡ οἰκουμένη, cf. Mat.4:8 with Luk.4:5): Mat.4:8, Mrk.16:[15], Col.2:20, 1Ti.6:7, al.; hence by meton., …

choseἐξελέξατοexelexatoG1586
to select

ἐκλέγω (eklegō) ἐκ-λέγω [in LXX chiefly for בָּחַר ;] to pick out, choose. In NT always mid. (exc. Luk.9:35, ἐκλελεγμένος, WH, ἀγαπητός, R, mg.), to pick out for oneself, choose (cf. M, Pr., 157 f.): with accusative of thing(s), Luk.10:42 14:7; with accusative of person(s), Act.6:5 15:22, 25; of Christ (see supr.), Luk.9:35; of Christ's choice of disciples, Luk.6:13, Jhn.6:70 13:18 15:16, 19 Act.1:2; of the Divine choice: of persons, Mrk.13:20, Act.1:24 13:17 15:7, Eph.1:4, Jas.2:5; of things, 1Co.1:27-28 (Cremer, 402, 773).† (AS)

GodθεὸςtheosG2316
God

θεός (theos) θεός, -οῦ, ὁ, ἡ (Act.19:37 only; see M, Pr., 60, 244), late voc., θεέ (Mat.27:46; cf. Deu.3:24, al.), [in LXX chiefly for אֱלֹהִים, also for אֵל and other cognate forms, יהוה, etc. ;] a god or deity, God. 1. In polytheistic sense, a god or deity: Act.28:6, 1Co.8:4, 2Th.2:4, al.; pl., Ac. 14:11 19:26, Gal.4:8, al. 2. Of the one true God; …

thatἵναinaG2443
in order that/to

ἵνα (hina) ἵνα, I. adverb (poët., Hom., al.), 1. of place, where, whither. 2. of circumstance, when. II. Conjunction, 1. prop., final, denoting purpose or end (cl.), that, in order that, usually the first word in the clause, but sometimes (cl. also) preceded by an emphatic word (Act.19:4, Rom.11:31 (?), Gal.2:10, al.); (a) with optative (so in cl. after historic tenses): after a pres., Eph.1:17 (but WH, mg., subjc.; see Burton, §225, Rem., 2); …

He may shameκαταισχύνῃkataischunēG2617
to dishonor

καταισχύνω (kataischunō) κατ-αισχύνω [in LXX chiefly for בּוּשׁ ;] to disgrace, dishonour, put to shame: with accusative of thing(s), 1Co.11:4-5; with accusative of person(s), 1Co.1:27 11:22; pass., to be ashamed: Luk.13:17, 2Co.7:14 9:4, 1Pe.3:16; as in LXX (Psa.22:6 25:2-3, al.), of unfulfilled hopes: Rom.5:5; pass., Rom.9:33 10:11, 1Pe.2:6" (LXX) .† (AS)

strong,ἰσχυρά,ischuraG2478
strong

ἰσχυρός (ischuros) ἰσχυρός, -ά, -όν (ἰσχύω), [in LXX for אֵל, גִּבּוֹר, עָצוּם, חָזַק, etc. ;] strong, mighty, powerful; (a) of persons, as to body or spirit: Mat.12:29, Mrk.3:27, Luk.11:21-22, 1Co.4:10 (opposite to ἀσθενής), Heb.11:34 (ἐν πολέμῳ), Rev.5:2 10:1 18:21 19:18; οἱ πλούσιοι κ. οἱ ἰ, Rev.6:15; τὰ ἰ. = oἱ ἰ. (cf. 4Ki.24:15), 1Co.1:27; of God (cf. Deu.10:17), Rev.18:8; compar., Mat.3:11, Mrk.1:7, Luk.11:22, 1Co.1:25 (τὸ ἀσθενὲς τ. θεοῦ) 1Co.10:22; …

Words and meanings from STEPBible data (Tyndale House, Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). The capitalized syllable is the stressed one.