1 Corinthians 1:26 Commentary and Bible Study

God turns the order of human society upside down. ‘For you see your calling, brethren.’ Calling again: see that wonderful word. We are saved because we called. It is the sheer mercy and grace of God. But the apostle Paul means, see your community, see your church, see the kingdom of Christ, ‘how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble are called.’ Out of all the peoples of the world, these are the ones whom God has chosen, not many whom the world regards highly. There are some. The apostle Paul himself possessed a mighty intellect even before he was saved. However, not many; in fact, very few. There are not many wise in the kingdom of heaven – the philosophers; there are not many mighty – kings, rulers, generals. Yes, by the wonderful grace of God there are some, but not many; not many noble, highborn aristocratic, are called.