1 Corinthians 1:28 (YLT)

Passage

and the base things of the world, and the things despised did God choose, and the things that are not, that the things that are He may make useless--

Nearby Context

1 Corinthians 1:26 for see your calling, brethren, that not many <FI>are<Fi> wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble;

1 Corinthians 1:27 but the foolish things of the world did God choose, that the wise He may put to shame; and the weak things of the world did God choose that He may put to shame the strong;

1 Corinthians 1:28 and the base things of the world, and the things despised did God choose, and the things that are not, that the things that are He may make useless--

1 Corinthians 1:29 that no flesh may glory before Him;

1 Corinthians 1:30 and of Him ye--ye are in Christ Jesus, who became to us from God wisdom, righteousness also, and sanctification, and redemption,

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "world", "base", "things", "despised", and "choose". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "world" and "base", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 27's "but the foolish things of the world..." into verse 29's "that no flesh may glory before Him...", so "world" and "base" belong inside that flow. In 1 Corinthians context, the local focus is Christ, faith, and discipleship.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "world" and "base" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.