1 Corinthians 1:29 - Printer Friendly

ESV: so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.

NIV: so that no one may boast before him.

NASB: so that no human may boast before God.

CSB: so that no one may boast in his presence.

NLT: As a result, no one can ever boast in the presence of God.

KJV: That no flesh should glory in his presence.

NKJV: that no flesh should glory in His presence.

Nobody gets to stand before God and boast they were wise and strong enough to make it into His presence. Period. In fact, wisdom and knowledge can only lead us to understanding of truth (James 2:19); it does not force us to trust in that reality (Romans 1:18–23). Knowledge of God is useless unless a person seeks to know and love God.

Paul has identified two primary groups of people existing in the world of his day. Those who are "somethings" and those who are "nothings." The somethings, by the measure of society, were wise, well-educated, wealthy, respected, and held positions of social standing. For the most part, these somethings had rejected the gospel message that faith in a crucified Christ is the only way to become right with the one, true God.

The nothings, on the other hand, were the disposable, replaceable people in human terms. They had little hope of ever increasing their position in society. They received little respect or recognition.

God chose mostly from among the nothings those who would believe in Christ crucified. Since He is the one who chose them, they will not boast before Him on the day of judgment about their own wisdom and strength to believe in Jesus. They will know they received their faith as a gift.

More importantly in God's eyes, all the somethings will see that their rejection of Christ was not wise or strong or brave. They will understand that it is the reason they have become nothings before God. There will be no boasting.

God takes with deadly seriousness any rejection of His offer to come to Him in humility through faith and Christ.

First Corinthians 1:18–31 describes the foolishness of the gospel in the world's eyes. Both Jews and Greeks rejected the idea of Christ crucified. Any god who would die on a Roman cross, especially as a sacrifice for human sinfulness, would be seen by worldly eyes as a weak and foolish deity. God, though, will shame the wise and strong by giving the ability to believe in the cross of Christ mostly to the weak and foolish of the world, in human terms. In the end, nobody will boast before him of their own strength and wisdom.

Paul's letter to the Christians in Corinth begins with thanks for the great and powerful gifts God has given to them by His grace and through their faith in Christ. They will stand blameless before God in the end. Right now, though, they must stop dividing themselves according to which Christian teacher they follow and become unified in and around Christ. The gospel message of Christ's death on the cross is weak and foolish to the world, but God has given faith in Christ to those who believe it and find God's power and wisdom.

First Corinthians 1 begins Paul's letter to the Christians in Corinth, a big, bustling city on a major trade route. Paul knows them well, having spent a year and a half leading people to Christ and establishing the church there. He writes from Ephesus to correct some of their wrong attitudes and behaviors and to answer some of their questions. First, though, he thanks God for His grace to the Corinthians, knowing they will stand blameless before Him on the day of the Lord. Still, they must stop being divided and unite in and around Christ.

First Corinthians is one of the more practical books of the New Testament. Paul writes to a church immersed in a city associated with trade, but also with corruption and immorality. These believers are struggling to properly apply spiritual gifts and to resist the ungodly practices of the surrounding culture. Paul's letter gives instructions for real-life concerns such as marriage and spirituality. He also deals with the importance of unity and gives one of the Bible's more well-known descriptions of love in chapter 13.