Bible Strands
1 Corinthians 1:26
Brothers, consider the time of your calling: Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were powerful; not many were of noble birth.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Paul addresses the Corinthian church, directing their attention to the recent moment of their conversion. He uses their own demographic reality to anchor his argument about divine reversal.
The words — The imperative βλέπετε (blepete) means "Consider," and κλῆσιν (klēsin) translates to "calling." The construction frames the appeal as a deliberate examination of their conversion event.
The thread — This pattern of divine reversal runs through James 2:5, where God chooses the poor to be rich in faith, and 1 Corinthians 3:18, which warns against self-deception regarding worldly wisdom. Paul explicitly applies it in 1 Corinthians 1:27 by stating God chose the foolish and weak to shame the wise and strong.
Why it lands — The text states that few Corinthians possessed human wisdom, political power, or aristocratic lineage at their calling. It requires a reader to assess their own social standing against God’s consistent pattern of elevating the insignificant to accomplish his purposes.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:
Cross-references
- James 2:5 Listen, my beloved brothers: Has not God chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom He promised those who love Him?
- 1 Corinthians 3:18 Let no one deceive himself. If any of you thinks he is wise in this age, he should become a fool, so that he may become wise.
- James 1:9 The brother in humble circumstances should exult in his high position.
- Matthew 11:25 At that time Jesus declared, “I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because You have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children.
- 1 Corinthians 2:8 None of the rulers of this age understood it. For if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
- Luke 10:21 At that time Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and declared, “I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because You have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was well-pleasing in Your sight.
- Luke 18:24 Seeing the man’s sadness, Jesus said, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!
- 1 Corinthians 1:20 Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?
- Zephaniah 3:12 But I will leave within you a meek and humble people, and they will trust in the name of the LORD.
- Luke 1:3 Therefore, having carefully investigated everything from the beginning, it seemed good also to me to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus,