Kehillah in Corinth I 1:26

26 For you see your kri’ah (call), Achim b’Moshiach, what you were, that not many of you were chachamim (wise ones) by the standards of Bnei Adam, not many ba’alei hashpa’ah (people of influence), not many ba’alei zchus (privileged).

Kehillah in Corinth I 1:26 Meaning and Commentary

1 Corinthians 1:26

For ye see your calling, brethren
That is, those that were called by the grace of God among them; for as circumcision and uncircumcision stand for circumcised and uncircumcised persons, and election for elect persons, and righteousness for righteous persons, ( Romans 3:30 ) ( 11:7 ) ( 2 Peter 3:13 ) so here "calling" designs men called by grace; the manner of whose calling, and what sort of persons they were, the apostle signifies, they did or might, or ought, to see, observe, and consider; for respect is here had, not, as some have thought, to the first preachers of the Gospel, who were mechanics, fishermen, illiterate persons, very mean and despicable; but to the members of the church at Corinth, whether public preachers, or private members. The city of Corinth had in it many noble families, of high birth and quality, abounded with learned philosophers and rich merchants; and yet it was easy to be seen,

how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not
many noble are called.
The apostle does not say that there were none of the wise, the mighty, and noble called; for there were Crispus, and Sosthenes, rulers of the synagogue, and Gains a rich hospitable man, and Erastus the chamberlain of the city, and it may be some others of a like or better figure in life; but there were not many of them; instances of this kind are but few recorded in the Scripture; as Joseph of Arimathea a rich counsellor, Paulus Sergius a Roman deputy, Dionysius the Areopagite, and some in Caesar's palace; which show that nobility, riches, and learning, as they do not at all contribute towards a man's salvation, so neither can they hinder it where grace takes place; but, generally speaking, God has thought fit, for wise reasons, to choose and call persons of different characters.

Kehillah in Corinth I 1:26 In-Context

24 Yet, to those whom Hashem has given the kri’ah (1C 1:1-2) and summoned, to HaKeru’im (to the Called Ones), both to Yehudim and to Yevanim Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach, the Gevurat Hashem and the Chochmat Hashem.

25 For the so-called “sichlut” (foolishness) of Hashem has more chochmah than Bnei Adam, and the “weakness” of G-d has more koach (power) than Bnei Adam (1:18).

26 For you see your kri’ah (call), Achim b’Moshiach, what you were, that not many of you were chachamim (wise ones) by the standards of Bnei Adam, not many ba’alei hashpa’ah (people of influence), not many ba’alei zchus (privileged).

27 But Hashem in His bechirah (selection) chose the things of sichlut (foolishness), that He might bring the chachamim to bushah (shame); and Hashem in His bechirah (selection) chose the things of weakness that He might bring the strong to bushah (shame).

28 And those of the Olam Hazeh without mishpochah atzilah (noble birth) and those which are hanivzim (the despised, Isa 53:3) Hashem chose, choosing the things that are not, in order to bring to naught the things that are.