1 Corinthians 1:28 (KJV)

What does 1 Corinthians 1:28 mean?

1 Corinthians 1:28 says that God chooses what the world sees as lowly, despised, or insignificant—things and people that seem like “nothing”—to overturn and nullify what the world considers important or powerful. This shows that God’s values are often the opposite of human expectations or status.

Paul is writing to the church in Corinth, a city known for its pride in wisdom and social standing. He reminds them that God’s way is to lift up those who seem unimportant by worldly standards, using them to show the emptiness of human pride. This verse is part of Paul’s larger argument that the message of Jesus turns human ideas of power and worth upside down.

The Greek behind 1 Corinthians 1:28

• κόσμος (kosmos, “world”): This word often refers to the human world or society, especially as organized apart from God. Here, it highlights the contrast between what society values and what God chooses.
• ἐξουθενημένα (exouthenēmena, “despised”): This Greek word means “treated as nothing” or “utterly rejected.” Paul uses it to show how God deliberately chooses what people look down on.
• κατήργησεν (katērgēsen, “to bring to nought”): This verb means “to make powerless” or “to render ineffective.” Paul says God uses what seems insignificant to make the supposedly important things lose their power or influence.

Why 1 Corinthians 1:28 matters

• This verse corrects the idea that God only works through the powerful, wealthy, or influential; instead, God often works through those the world overlooks.
• Paul’s point challenges the Corinthian church’s tendency to value status and human wisdom, reminding them that God’s priorities are different.
• The verse connects to Paul’s wider message that the gospel itself—centered on a crucified Messiah—seems foolish or weak by worldly standards, but is actually God’s wisdom and power.