1 Corinthians 1:31

1 Corinthians 1:31 (KJV) provides a foundational principle regarding the source of true glory, concluding Paul's argument about God's counter-cultural wisdom and His choice of the "foolish" things of the world to shame the wise.

Context

In the preceding verses of 1 Corinthians chapter 1, Paul addresses the divisions and spiritual pride prevalent in the Corinthian church. He contrasts human wisdom and worldly power with God's divine wisdom, which is powerfully demonstrated through the "foolishness" of the cross. Paul emphasizes that God deliberately chose those who are considered weak, lowly, and despised by the world (1 Corinthians 1:27-29) so that no one might boast in their own accomplishments or status before Him. Verse 30 then highlights that believers are "in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption." Verse 31 logically follows, serving as a powerful summation of this theological truth.

Key Themes

• Divine Wisdom vs. Human Wisdom: The verse underlines that true wisdom and glory do not come from human intellect, status, or achievements, but solely from God. It challenges the world's metrics of success and importance.
• Humility: By directing all glory to the Lord, the verse promotes profound humility. It teaches believers that their salvation, understanding, and strength are gifts from God, leaving no room for self-exaltation.
• God's Sovereignty: It reaffirms God as the ultimate source of all good things and the rightful recipient of all praise and honor.
• The Sufficiency of Christ: As Christ is our wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption (1 Corinthians 1:30), it is in Him that we find everything we need, and therefore, our boasting is rightly placed in Him.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord" is a direct quotation from the Old Testament, specifically Jeremiah 9:24. The Greek word for "glorieth" is kauchaomai (καυχάομαι), which means "to boast, to glory, to exult, to take pride in." Paul uses this word frequently to discuss the proper and improper objects of boasting. Here, it is used in a positive sense, indicating that the only legitimate and God-honoring basis for pride or confidence is found in the Lord Himself, not in human accomplishments or attributes.

Practical Application

This verse profoundly impacts how believers should view themselves, their achievements, and their faith:

• Shift in Focus: It calls us to shift our focus from self-exaltation to God-exaltation. When we succeed, achieve, or are recognized, our first thought should be to acknowledge God's grace and provision.
• Curbing Pride: It serves as a powerful antidote to pride, reminding us that anything good in us or through us originates from God. This helps to cultivate a spirit of gratitude and dependence.
• Evangelism and Witness: In sharing our faith, this principle guides us to point to Christ as the source of transformation and hope, rather than our own efforts or intellect. Our testimony becomes about what God has done, not what we have achieved.
• Unity: In a church context, it promotes unity by removing the basis for boasting in human leaders, gifts, or social status. All believers are equally dependent on God, and all glory belongs to Him alone, fostering a spirit of mutual humility and shared purpose. This echoes themes found in other Pauline epistles, such as Galatians 6:14, where Paul declares he will "glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ."

Reflection

1 Corinthians 1:31 is a timeless reminder that our ultimate identity, worth, and source of boasting must be found in the Lord. It compels us to live lives that consistently direct praise and honor back to God, recognizing His supreme wisdom, power, and grace in all things.