1 Corinthians 1:28 Meaning: God Chose Things That Don't Exist
God chose the lowly things of the world, and the things that are despised, and the things that don’t exist, that he might bring to nothing the things that exist,
And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:
and the base things of the world, and the things that are despised, did God choose, yea and the things that are not, that he might bring to nought the things that are:
and the base things of the world, and the things despised did God choose, and the things that are not, that the things that are He may make useless--
and the ignoble things of the world, and the despised, has God chosen, [and] things that are not, that he may annul the things that are;
Meaning in one sentence
Paul says God chose lowly, despised things, even things that don't exist, to nullify the things that are. An upside-down kingdom principle.
Context
Paul is writing to a church in Corinth where status meant everything. People ranked each other by wisdom, wealth, and family name. Some believers looked down on others. In chapter 1, Paul turns the whole system on its head. He points out that when God called the Corinthians, not many were wise, powerful, or well-born. Then he explains God's strategy: He deliberately chose the foolish, the weak, the low-born, the despised, even what Jewish people called the 'things that are not' (referring to Gentiles), in order to shame the wise and strong and bring the proud to nothing. This is not an accident; it is how God works to keep anyone from boasting in His presence.
Key Words
Paul piles up terms to make his point unmistakable. The word for 'lowly' (agenē) meant 'of no family', someone without a pedigree. 'Despised' (exouthenēmena) carries the force of being set at nothing, as if utterly rejected. Then he pushes further: things that 'don't exist' (ta mē onta) and things that 'exist' (ta onta). This is not about absolute non-existence. It is the way the world talks: some people count, some are nobodies. God chooses the nobodies. And the verb 'bring to nothing' (katargēsē) means to make useless, to deprive of power. God empties the pretensions of the proud by working through people the world ignores. He does not need resumes.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christians across traditions have read this verse as a radical social leveling. Many Reformed commentators like Calvin stress that 'things that are not' means what people regard as nothing, God uses the invisible to overturn the visible. Wesley and Clarke saw a specific reference to the Gentiles, whom Jewish tradition called 'not a people.' Barnes noted that Paul pushes language to the absolute: not just ignoble but utterly worthless in human eyes. The Cambridge Bible calls it 'a change of places' in God's upside-down kingdom. There is no dispute that the verse shatters human pride, though different traditions emphasize either the social dimension or the theological point that only God deserves glory.
A common misunderstanding
Some readers think that 'things that don't exist' means God chooses people who literally do not exist, as if He creates them out of nothing to save them. In fact, Paul's language is rhetorical hyperbole. He means people who are regarded as nothing by society, like Gentiles or the poor, not literally non-existent beings. The point is that God uses what the world disregards entirely to show that true power belongs to Him.
Living This Out
This week, you might feel ignored at work, unseen in your family, or out of place in your church. Paul's words are not just comfort; they are a call to trust God's strategy. God is not embarrassed by your smallness. He chose you precisely because the world overlooks you. Instead of fighting for attention, rest in His choice. Look for where He is working through humble people around you. Maybe you are the person He wants to use to bring down a proud attitude or a harsh system, not by force but by quiet faithfulness.
Main takeaway: God chooses what the world counts as nothing, so that no human being can boast in His presence.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
God likes to pick the smallest and weakest people to do big things. You don't need to be strong or famous. God can use you just how you are.
For ages 9, 12
Paul says that God chooses things that the world calls nothing. Maybe you feel invisible sometimes, not the smartest, the most popular, or the best at sports. That's exactly the kind of person God loves to use. He doesn't need you to be impressive. He wants you to trust Him so He can show His power through your life. You matter to God.
Questions People Ask
What does 'things that are not' mean in 1 Corinthians 1:28?
Paul is using a strong expression. The phrase refers to people who are regarded as nothing by the world. Jews sometimes called Gentiles 'not a people' or 'things that are not.' Paul's point is that God chooses those whom society counts as nonentities. He uses them to show that true value comes from Him, not from human status.
How does God use lowly things to nullify the things that are?
The verb 'nullify' (katargeō) means to make useless or deprive of power. When God works through the lowly and despised, it reveals the emptiness of human power and wisdom. Those who boast in their status or accomplishments are shown to be nothing compared to God's strength. The cross is the ultimate example: what looked like weakness conquered sin and death.
Why does God choose the despised in 1 Corinthians 1:28?
God's choice is deliberate. He picks the despised to demonstrate that salvation does not depend on human worth. It is purely His grace. The purpose is to eliminate any grounds for boasting. As verse 29 says, 'no flesh should boast before God.' By choosing the overlooked, God shows that His wisdom and power are sufficient.
What is the context of 1 Corinthians 1:28?
Paul is addressing divisions in the Corinthian church. Some believers were proud of their wisdom, social status, or spiritual gifts. In chapter 1, he contrasts human wisdom with God's wisdom revealed in the cross. Verses 26, 28 argue that God's calling of the lowly and despised proves that salvation is not about human merit but God's sovereign choice.
Does 1 Corinthians 1:28 mean God only chooses people who are lowly?
No. Paul is describing the pattern he sees in the Corinthian church, not a rule that God never calls the rich or wise. The point is that the majority of believers came from humble backgrounds, and God uses the overlooked to shame the proud. Anyone, regardless of background, must come in humility. The verse cuts against the idea that status gives us an advantage with God.
For pastors & researchers
Greek interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study