Ministry of Grace Church

and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are,

Truth to Learn

God chose the lowly, non-people to be His.

Behind the Words

“Base things” is the translation of the Greek noun agenēs. This word is made up of the privative a, meaning “not” or “without” and genos, meaning “a nation or a race of people.” Thus, agenēs means “non-people.” In common usage it refers to people who are considered base or ignoble. It is the opposite of someone who is born of noble blood.

The word “despised” is from the neuter form of exoutheneō. This word is made up of ex, meaning “out or out of” (used as an intensifier) and a form of oudeis, meaning “nothing.” Therefore, exoutheneō means “to treat someone or something as if it has absolutely no value at all.”

“Things which are not” is translated from mē onta. Mē is a particle of negation, meaning “not” and onta is a form of eimi which is the verb of being (I am, you are, it is, etc.). Hence, mē onta literally means “things that don’t exist.” It is a Hebraism that Jews us to refer to Gentiles.

Katargeō is the Greek verb translated “bring to nothing.” It is made up of kata, meaning “down,” used as an intensifier and argeō, meaning “to cause to be ineffective or useless.”

Meaning Explained

In verse twenty-seven, the Apostle Paul gave a description of the type of people the world considers important, pointing out that God has called very few of them. Then in yesterday's verse he began a description of the type of people that God intentionally called to Himself. This included the fools of the world and the weak people of the world.

In today’s verse he gives three more descriptions of the type of people that God has called to Himself. The first is “the base things of the world.” These are people who were not born into rich, powerful, aristocratic families. They enter life with nothing and are given little opportunity to improve their lot in life. They are looked down at by the upper class and are considered of little value. In fact, in Paul’s second description, they are “despised,” treated as if they have no value at all.

The third description in this verse of God’s chosen people is “things which are not.” This is an even lower class of people than “the base things of the world.” A classic example of what Paul is referring to is seen in India today. The lowest class in their caste system is referred to as “the untouchables” or Dalits. They are considered less than human. They are not allowed to drink from the same wells, attend the same temples, or wear shoes in the presence of the upper class. They are non-people.

God specifically focused his calling on these people for a purpose. That purpose is to demonstrate to those who think themselves to be something special, that they are really the non-people from God’s perspective.

Application

In the eyes of the world, most Christians are weak, foolish, ignorant non-people. But in God’s eyes we are His special children for whom He sacrificed His Son. One day we shall sit with our Lord as He judges the rich, powerful, and proud people of this world and they will see who is really weak and foolish. And God will receive all the praise and all the glory.