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and God chose the lowly things of the world, and the things that are despised, and the things that are not, that he might bring to nothing the things that are:
Verse Takeaways
1
God Chooses the "Nothings"
Commentators explain that the phrase "things which are not" is a powerful climax to Paul's list. It refers to people considered so insignificant by the world that they are treated as non-existent—the ultimate "nobodies." Scholars note this is about human perception, not a person's actual value to God. God intentionally chooses those the world dismisses to accomplish His purposes.
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Book Overview
1 Corinthians
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11
18th Century
Presbyterian
And base things of the world. Those things which by the world are esteemed ignoble. Literally, those which are not of noble or illustrious…
19th Century
Anglican
And things which are not.—This climax loses somewhat of its force by the insertion of the word “and,” which is not in som…
Baptist
But 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 thin…
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Paul continues by stating that God has chosen those of the lower levels of society. First he mentions the slave class and the despised. These terms…
16th Century
Protestant
Things that are not. He uses similar terms in Romans 4:17, but in a different sense. For in that passage, when describing the universal ca…
17th Century
Reformed Baptist
And base things of the world Who are reckoned the filth of the world, and the offscouring of all things; men of mean…
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God did not choose philosophers, orators, statesmen, or men of wealth, power, and influence in the world to publish the gospel of grace and peace. …
13th Century
Catholic
After showing that the method of teaching with eloquent wisdom does not suit Christian doctrine because of its subject matter—the cross of Christ—t…