1 CORINTHIANS 1:28 — KING JAMES VERSION 0
“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:”
God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things — and the things that are not — to nullify the things that are — the descent into ever-greater lowliness: lowly (tapeinoi), despised (exouthenemena), 'things that are not' (ta mē onta). The phrase 'things that are not' recalls the Greek philosophical worry about non-being; Paul says God chooses the non-existent to nullify existence. This is paradoxical to worldly logic.
Church Fathers on 1 Corinthians 1:28
“And the base things of the world, and the things that are despised, and the things that are not, that he might bring to naught the things that are.” Now what does He call things “that are not?” Those persons who are considered to be nothing because of their great insignificance. Thus has He shown forth His great power, casting down the great by those who seem to be nothing. The same elsewhere he thus expresses, 2 Corinthians 12:9 “For my strength is made perfect in…
Nicene & Post-Nicene / Ante-Nicene Fathers translations · public domain
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