1Cor 1:27-28 | JFB | STEP | 27. the foolish things —a general phrase for all persons and things foolish. Even things (and those, too, foolish things ) are chosen by God to confound persons, (and those too persons who are wise ). This seems to me the force of the change from neuter to masculine. to confound —The Greek is stronger, " that He might confound (or put to shame)." God confounds the wise by effecting through His instruments, without human wisdom, that the worldly wise, with it, cannot effect, namely, to bring men to salvation. chosen . . . chosen —The repetition indicates the gracious deliberateness of God's purpose ( ).

1 Corinthians 1:27-28

27. the foolish things—a general phrase for all persons and things foolish. Even things (and those, too, foolish things) are chosen by God to confound persons, (and those too persons who are wise). This seems to me the force of the change from neuter to masculine.

to confound—The Greek is stronger, "that He might confound (or put to shame)." God confounds the wise by effecting through His instruments, without human wisdom, that the worldly wise, with it, cannot effect, namely, to bring men to salvation.

chosen . . . chosen—The repetition indicates the gracious deliberateness of God's purpose (Jas 2:5).

28. yea, and things which are not—Yea is not in the Greek. Also some of the oldest manuscripts omit "and." Thus the clause, "things which are not" (are regarded as naught), is in apposition with "foolish . . . weak . . . base (that is, lowborn) and despised things." God has chosen all four, though regarded as things that are not, to bring to naught things that are.