Charles Ellicott Commentary 1 Corinthians 1:28

"and the base things of the world, and the things that are despised, did God choose, [yea] and the things that are not, that he might bring to nought the things that are:" — 1 Corinthians 1:28 (ASV)

And things which are not.—This climax loses somewhat of its force by the insertion of the word “and,” which is not in some of the best manuscripts, and “yea,” which is not in any manuscript. Omitting the word “and,” the sentence is not an addition to the things already mentioned, but a general and emphatic summary of all the things which have been already contrasted with their opposites. After the words God has chosen there is a slight pause, and then the Apostle describes all those things which he has declared to be God’s choice as things which are not—i.e., do not in men’s estimation even exist (Romans 4:17; Romans 9:25; see also Job 34:19, 24).