The election of the foolish

Here Paul reminds the Corinthian Christians of the kind of people they were when they were saved. The world values those who possess intellectual ability, political power, and social status. However, there were very few such people in the Corinthian church. (1) The “wise according to the flesh” refers to those who possessed intellectual ability and were well versed in Greek philosophy. (2) The “mighty” refers to those who possess political power. (3) The “noble” refers to those who have high social standing, that is, those who belong to the aristocratic class. Rather, the Corinthian Christians were “the insignificant things of the world” and “the despised.” These expressions refer to slaves. Indeed, there were many slaves in the Corinthian church.

The purpose of election

God chose the foolish things of the world and the weak things of the world in order to shame the wise and the strong. In other words, He did this to teach that salvation can never be attained through one’s own works or efforts. Those who have been saved by faith and grace come to realize that they have absolutely nothing in themselves of which they can boast before God. Let us consider what we have received in Jesus Christ. (1) For those who believe, Christ is “the wisdom of God.” (2) In Christ, we have been justified. (3) Furthermore, sanctification is also obtained through our union with Christ. (4) Christ became the redemption for our sins and died on the cross for us. Now let us remember from what condition we were saved and by what means we were saved. No one has any basis for boasting before God. The only thing we boast in is the cross of Jesus Christ. Let us meditate on the meaning of the words, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”