What does 1 Corinthians 1:27 mean?

Paul has asked the Christians in Corinth to take a good look at the people in their congregation, their brothers and sisters in Christ. In the previous verse, he wrote that very few of them are wise or powerful in human terms. Not many of them were born into nobility. His point is not to put them down, but to emphasize that God does not require brilliance or power to become a believer. In fact, many people rely on their intellect or wealth so much that it keeps them from trusting in God (Matthew 19:23).

Paul is continuing to reveal why so few Jews and Greeks believe in the crucified Christ. They think that any god who could or would die on a cross to save people would be foolish and weak. By extension, those who would believe such a thing would also be foolish and weak. The term used for "foolishness" here is the same one behind the English word moron.

Only those God calls to believe in the gospel can see the strength and wisdom in this act of love. Now Paul confirms that God does indeed choose foolish and weak people, as defined by human terms, to come to Him through faith in Christ. Why does God do this? He wants to shame those who consider themselves too wise or strong to believe such a thing.

Paul, of course, is not saying that the believers in Corinth—or the humble Christians in other places and times—are truly foolish and weak. The world sees them as idiots and losers, because they occupy service positions, are not well-educated, or do not have money, rank, or social standing. Even more so, the world sees them as fools for believing in Jesus. In truth, though, by God's grace, these believers are the only ones who see clearly enough to receive what is actually wise and strong.