1Cor 1:26-27 | Barnes | STEP | Verse 26. For ye see your calling . You know the general character and condition of those who are Christians among you, that they have not been generally taken from the wise, the rich, and the learned, but from humble life. The design of the apostle here is to show that the gospel did not depend for its Success on human wisdom. His argument is, that in fact those who were blessed by it had not been of the elevated ranks of life mainly, but that God had shown his Power.by choosing those who were ignorant, and vicious, and abandoned, and by reforming and purifying their lives The verb "ye see," βλεπετε is ambiguous, and may be either in the indicative mood, as our translators have rendered it, "ye do see; you are well apprized of it, and know it;" or it may be in the imperative, "see, contemplate your condition ;" but the sense is substantially the same. Your calling, τηνκλησιν, means "those who are called," ; as "the circumcision" means those who are circumcised, . The sense is, "Look upon the condition of those who are Christians." Not many wise men . Not many who are regarded as wise; or who are ranked with philosophers. This supposes that there were some of that description, though the mass of Christians were then, as now, from more humble ranks of life. That there were some of high rank and wealth at Corinth who became Christians, is well known. Crispus and Sosthenes, rulers of the synagogue there, ( , comp. ;) Gaius, rich, hospitable man, ; and Erastus, the chancellor of the city of Corinth, , had been converted, and were members of the church. Some have supposed ( Macknight ) that this should be rendered, "not many mighty, wise, etc., call you ; that is, God has not employed the wise and the learned to call you into his kingdom." But the sense in our translation is evidently the correct interpretation, it is the obvious sense; and it agrees with the design of the apostle, which was to show that God had not consulted the wisdom, and power, and wealth of men, in the establishment of his church. So the Syriac and the Vulgate render it. After the flesh . According to the maxims and principles of a sensual and worldly policy; according to the views of men when under the influence of those principles; i.e., who are unrenewed. The flesh here stands opposed to the spirit; the views of the men of this world in contradistinction from the wisdom that is from above. Not many mighty . Not many men of power; or men sustaining important offices in the state. Comp. . The word may refer to those who wield power of any kind, whether derived from office, from rank, from wealth, etc. Not many noble . Not many of illustrious birth, or descended from illustrious families ευγενεις, well-born . In respect to each of these classes, the apostle does not say that there were no men of wealth, and power, and birth, but that the mass or body of Christians was not composed of such. They were made up of those who were in humble life. There were a few, indeed, of rank and property, as there are now; but then, as now, the great mass were composed of those who were from the lower conditions of society. The reason why God had chosen his people from that rank is stated in . The character of many of those who composed the church at Corinth, before their conversion, is stated in , which see. (a) "not many wise"

1 Corinthians 1:26-27

Verse 26. For ye see your calling. You know the general character and condition of those who are Christians among you, that they have not been generally taken from the wise, the rich, and the learned, but from humble life. The design of the apostle here is to show that the gospel did not depend for its Success on human wisdom. His argument is, that in fact those who were blessed by it had not been of the elevated ranks of life mainly, but that God had shown his Power.by choosing those who were ignorant, and vicious, and abandoned, and by reforming and purifying their lives The verb "ye see," βλεπετε is ambiguous, and may be either in the indicative mood, as our translators have rendered it, "ye do see; you are well apprized of it, and know it;" or it may be in the imperative, "see, contemplate your condition ;" but the sense is substantially the same. Your calling, τηνκλησιν, means "those who are called," 1Cor 1:9; as "the circumcision" means those who are circumcised, Rom 3:30. The sense is, "Look upon the condition of those who are Christians."

Not many wise men. Not many who are regarded as wise; or who are ranked with philosophers. This supposes that there were some of that description, though the mass of Christians were then, as now, from more humble ranks of life. That there were some of high rank and wealth at Corinth who became Christians, is well known. Crispus and Sosthenes, rulers of the synagogue there, (Acts 18:8,17, comp. 1Cor 1:1;) Gaius, rich, hospitable man, Rom 16:23; and Erastus, the chancellor of the city of Corinth, Rom 16:23, had been converted, and were members of the church. Some have supposed (Macknight) that this should be rendered, "not many mighty, wise, etc., call you; that is, God has not employed the wise and the learned to call you into his kingdom." But the sense in our translation is evidently the correct interpretation, it is the obvious sense; and it agrees with the design of the apostle, which was to show that God had not consulted the wisdom, and power, and wealth of men, in the establishment of his church. So the Syriac and the Vulgate render it.

After the flesh. According to the maxims and principles of a sensual and worldly policy; according to the views of men when under the influence of those principles; i.e., who are unrenewed. The flesh here stands opposed to the spirit; the views of the men of this world in contradistinction from the wisdom that is from above.

Not many mighty. Not many men of power; or men sustaining important offices in the state. Comp. Rev 6:15. The word may refer to those who wield power of any kind, whether derived from office, from rank, from wealth, etc.

Not many noble. Not many of illustrious birth, or descended from illustrious families ευγενεις, well-born. In respect to each of these classes, the apostle does not say that there were no men of wealth, and power, and birth, but that the mass or body of Christians was not composed of such. They were made up of those who were in humble life. There were a few, indeed, of rank and property, as there are now; but then, as now, the great mass were composed of those who were from the lower conditions of society. The reason why God had chosen his people from that rank is stated in 1Cor 1:29. The character of many of those who composed the church at Corinth, before their conversion, is stated in 1Cor 6:9-11, which see.

(a) "not many wise" Zeph 3:12, Jn 7:48 Verse 27. But God hath chosen. The fact of their being in the church at all was the result of his choice. It was owing entirely to his grace.

The foolish things. The things esteemed foolish among men. The expression here refers to those who were destitute of learning, rank, wealth, and power, and who were esteemed as fools, and were despised by the rich and the great.

To confound. To bring to shame; or that he might make them ashamed; i.e., humble them by showing them how little he regarded their wisdom; and how little their wisdom contributed to the success of his cause. By thus overlooking them, and bestowing his favours on the humble and the poor; by choosing his people from the ranks which they despised, and bestowing on them the exalted privilege of being called the sons of God, he had poured dishonour on the rich and the great, and overwhelmed them, and their schemes of wisdom, with shame. It is also true, that those who are regarded as fools by the wise men of the world, are able often to confound those who boast of their wisdom; and that the arguments of plain men, though unlearned except in the school of Christ-- of men of sound, common sense, under the influence of Christian principles--have a force which the learning and talent of the men of this world cannot gainsay or resist. They have truth on their side; and truth, though dressed in a humble garb, is more mighty than error, though clothed with the brilliancy of imagination, the pomp of declamation, and the cunning of sophistry.

The weak things. Those esteemed weak by the men of the world.

The mighty. The great, the noble, the learned.

(b) "But God" Ps 8:2, Mt 11:25