Albert Barnes Commentary 1 Corinthians 1:27

"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;" — 1 Corinthians 1:27 (ASV)

But God hath chosen. The fact of their being in the church at all was the result of his choice. It was owing entirely to his grace.

The foolish things. The things regarded as foolish among men. The expression here refers to those who were lacking learning, rank, wealth, and power, and who were regarded as fools, and were despised by the rich and the great.

To confound. To bring to shame, or that he might make them ashamed; that is, to humble them by showing them how little he regarded their wisdom; and how little their wisdom contributed to the success of his cause. By thus overlooking them, and bestowing his favors on the humble and the poor; by choosing his people from the ranks which they despised, and bestowing on them the exalted privilege of being called the sons of God, he had poured dishonor on the rich and the great, and overwhelmed them, and their schemes of wisdom, with shame.

It is also true that those who are regarded as fools by the wise men of the world are often able to confound those who boast of their wisdom; and that the arguments of plain men, though unlearned except in the school of Christ—of men of sound, common sense, under the influence of Christian principles—have a force that the learning and talent of the men of this world cannot contradict or resist. They have truth on their side; and truth, though dressed in a humble garb, is more mighty than error, though clothed with the brilliance of imagination, the pomp of declamation, and the cunning of sophistry.

The weak things. Those regarded as weak by the men of the world.

The mighty. The great, the noble, the learned.