Bible Strands
1 Corinthians 1:29
so that no one may boast in His presence.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Paul addresses the Corinthian church while explaining how God deliberately selects the world’s lowly and despised to overturn human standards of status.
The words — καυχῆσαι (kauchēsētai) translates literally as “may boast,” and σὰρξ (sarx) means “flesh,” denoting human nature or mortal achievement.
The thread — The exclusion of human boasting runs through Romans 3:27, Jeremiah 9:23, and Ephesians 2:9.
Why it lands — The text states that no human accomplishment may claim standing before God. This requires the reader to abandon self-reliance and acknowledge that all merit derives from divine action alone.
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
That no flesh should glory in his presence.
Cross-references
- Romans 3:27 Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. On what principle? On that of works? No, but on that of faith.
- Jeremiah 9:23 This is what the LORD says: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, nor the strong man in his strength, nor the wealthy man in his riches.
- Ephesians 2:9 not by works, so that no one can boast.
- Romans 3:19 Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God.
- Romans 15:17 Therefore I exult in Christ Jesus in my service to God.
- 1 Corinthians 1:31 Therefore, as it is written: “Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.”
- 1 Corinthians 4:7 For who makes you so superior? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?
- Isaiah 10:15 Does an axe raise itself above the one who swings it? Does a saw boast over him who saws with it? It would be like a rod waving the one who lifts it, or a staff lifting him who is not wood!
- Romans 4:2 If Abraham was indeed justified by works, he had something to boast about, but not before God.
- 1 Corinthians 5:6 Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven works through the whole batch of dough?