1 Corinthians 1:27 states “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.” This verse comes in the context of Paul addressing divisions in the church at Corinth. Some members were boasting in their wisdom and eloquence, while looking down on others. Paul reminds them that God’s ways are not man’s ways. He often uses the simple and humble rather than the proud and sophisticated to accomplish His purposes.
Here are some key points about what it means that God chooses the foolish things:
- God deliberately chooses those the world regards as foolish and weak to shame the supposedly wise and powerful. This is a paradox but displays God’s wisdom.
- He does this to show that human wisdom, might, and status mean nothing before Him. His power and wisdom are far above any man’s.
- He lifts up the lowly and humbles the proud who boast in their own abilities. Pride is antithetical to the gospel.
- His methods confound human wisdom. The cross of Christ itself seemed foolishness but was God’s power for salvation.
- God is not impressed by human credentials, resumes, wealth, status, strengths, or intelligence.
- He looks at the heart while man looks at outward appearance. A humble heart yields itself to God’s wisdom.
- The foolish things paradox teaches us to rely on God’s power, not our own abilities.
- God exalts those who humbly depend on Him rather than seeking glory for themselves.
The Corinthian church struggled with pride. Some members claimed spiritual superiority and knowledge, causing disunity and arrogance. Paul reminds them that God chose the foolish and weak to shame the wise so that no one can boast before Him. All glory belongs to God alone. Our human credentials, strengths, and wisdom count for nothing before the all-knowing, all-powerful God. In fact, God intentionally chooses simple and humble people and methods to accomplish His divine purposes, confounding the world’s wisdom.
This passage does not mean that God never uses the educated, strong, talented, or competent. Nor does it mean that wisdom and learning are bad. Rather, it’s a caution against pride and self-reliance. The point is that no one can boast before God based on human credentials or abilities. All believers become wise and strong through Christ and His Spirit working in them.
1. God deliberately chooses those the world regards as foolish
The Greek word for “foolish” is moraino, meaning dull, stupid, or foolish. It referred to those lacking learning, education, and intellectual ability. The “foolish things” represent people the world regards as idiots and simpletons. Yet these are the very ones God deliberately chooses to shame the wise and powerful. This seems contradictory and paradoxical to human thinking, yet displays God’s infinite wisdom and power.
Similarly, God chooses the “weak things” of the world, meaning feeble, frail, humble, and lacking in strength and might. He highlights these weak vessels to shame the strong and mighty. So God intentionally works through and exalts those the world dismisses as foolish and weak in order to humble the proud.
2. To show that human credentials mean nothing before Him
God chooses the foolish and weak things of the world to demonstrate that human wisdom, status, might, wealth, and accomplishments count for nothing before Him. No matter how intelligent, cultured, accomplished, powerful, or sophisticated people may be in the world’s eyes, it carries no weight with God. In fact, He often intentionally bypasses the so-called elite to accomplish His purposes through ordinary people.
This crushes human pride and boasting. No one can brag of their resume, achievements, talent, intelligence, strength, or position before God. He is not impressed by outward appearances and worldly credentials. As Isaiah 55:8-9 states, God’s ways and thoughts are infinitely higher than man’s.
3. He humbles the proud and exalts the lowly
The proud who boast in their own wisdom and abilities receive a strong rebuke in this passage. God humbles those filled with pride by working through those they would regard as inferior. He lifts up the humble rather than the arrogant wise. This theme echoes throughout Scripture, such as Mary’s song magnifying God for putting down the proud and exalting the humble (Luke 1:46-55).
God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble (James 4:6). Pride puts self in the place of God. But the gospel calls us to humility, considering others better than ourselves (Philippians 2:3). So God chooses the foolish things to shame those operating in pride rather than grace and humility.
4. His methods confound human wisdom
The cross of Christ is the ultimate example of God choosing the foolish to shame the wise. Crucifixion was a shameful, brutal execution for slaves and criminals. Having the Messiah crucified seemed utterly foolish and scandalous. Yet God displayed His infinite wisdom through the apparent foolishness of the cross. Through Christ’s death, God brought salvation to all who believe (1 Corinthians 1:18-25).
If God displayed His power through an impressive show of force, the arrogant wise of the world would remain in their pride. But God reveals His wisdom in a way no human could ever conceive or anticipate. The cross opens the way of salvation for all by grace rather than works. His foolishness is wiser than man’s wisdom (1 Corinthians 1:25).
5. He is not impressed by human credentials
One clear application is that God is not impressed by outward resumes, strengths, abilities, wealth, education, power, prestigious positions, intelligence, achievements, or anything else the world values. God looks at the heart while man is concerned with externals (1 Samuel 16:7).
A humble heart that relies fully on God is greater in His eyes than the most impressive human credentials. Our fundamentally broken human nature means that nothing we bring to the table impresses Him or earns His favor. God chooses those fully relying on His power rather than their own ability.
6. He looks at the heart while man looks at appearances
While man fixates on outward appearances, performance, and credentials, God sees and judges the heart. He values lowly servants with humility, integrity, and faith over the proudest self-promoters. The Pharisees were experts in the law, highly respected in society, and rigorous in outward rule-keeping. Yet Jesus pronounced woes upon them for their pride and hypocrisy (Matthew 23:13-36). Outward righteousness means nothing without inward humility and love for God.
This verse reminds us that a humble heart that relies fully on God is greater in His eyes than the most impressive resume. He remains unimpressed by human wisdom or might. What matters most is having a heart wholly devoted to Him in humility and faith.
7. It teaches reliance on God’s power
This paradox also teaches us that God’s power and wisdom are superior to man’s. By working through the simple rather than the mighty, He displays His almighty power and glory. Our human credentials, strengths, and abilities are meaningless apart from God’s empowerment.
The only appropriate response is to humbly rely on God’s power working within and through us rather than self-reliance. As Paul says, “For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?” (1 Corinthians 4:7). Everything we have comes from God by grace.
8. God exalts those who humbly depend on Him
God exalts those who humbly depend on Him rather than seeking their own glory and recognition. When we boast in our abilities, we fail to give God glory for granting those abilities. Pride takes credit rather than giving credit. But the humble recognize that every good thing comes from God above.
Jesus displayed perfect humility, depending wholly on the Father and giving Him glory. Therefore, God highly exalted Him (Philippians 2:5-11). Those who walk in humility rather than self-promotion receive God’s gracious favor and lifting up in due time.
1 Corinthians 1:26-29 reminds us that not many wise, mighty, or noble are called. God intentionally calls the foolish, weak, and despised to put human boasting to shame. He resists the proud but gives grace to the humble. The passage crushes human pride in outward advantages, strengths, and wisdom. Our hope lies not in ourselves but solely in Christ and His power at work within us.
In summary, 1 Corinthians 1:27 teaches that God chooses humble and simple means rather than the impressive or sophisticated to accomplish His divine purposes. He deliberately highlights the foolish and weak things to humble the proud, display His surpassing power and wisdom, and exalt those fully relying on Him. This confounds human thinking but demonstrates God’s infinitely higher ways.