For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise, according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble are called. (27) But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; (28) 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, (29) that nonflesh should glory in His presence.  (30) But of Him you are in Jesus Christ, who became for us wisdom from God – and righteousness and sanctification and redemption – (31) that, as it is written, “He who glories, let him glory in the Lord.” 

The letter to the CORINTHIANS was written by the Apostle Paul. The Christians at Corinth were status seekers and into cults of personalities;  judging by the power and status of men and of the worldly.  Paul is telling his audience to not judge by earthly standards but to be aware that God’s choice is upside down wisdom to the foolishness of man. The  powerful and proud are no better than the poor and weak – and prideful man has a more difficult time in accepting Gods wisdom.  God puts aside conventional wisdom so that glory may come to Him and not man.

We live in a secular world and pride is the root problem; we think not too little of ourselves but too much. Salvation is Christ centered, not man centered. The gospel is the standard for right living and the basis for all human relationships – it removes conflict between man and God and between man and man.  Paul is telling the Christians at Corinth to consider their calling and to go back to their spiritual roots. He reminds them that they were not called because of their worldly status.  Wealth and position can be a hindrance when too much wanted in this world.

So there are two radically different views of the gospel in ancient Corinth; to the unbelievers the gospel is foolish and weak but to the Christian it is the power and wisdom of God to salvation.