For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”
And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.
Comment: There were socially important people (eg Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea), and people of high academic achievement (Saul/Paul) and wealthy people (Dorcas) in the early church. But most were ordinary Joes and Janes and many were slaves! God’s way of answering human need for people to restore their broken relationship with Himself was not Philosophy or personal achievement but a method which is foreign to one’s desire ‘to go it alone’ – to achieve it myself! In opposition God has provided a way marked by i) listening to what God Himself says/did, ii) humility and repentance and iii) acceptance by faith of what God offers.
Paul the highly religious and well trained academic re-iteratees what they already knew. He wasn’t a great orator, he often had a squirmish belly and knocking knees. He had to depend on God’s Spirit to carry the spoken Gospel into a life changing force.
Prayer: Keep me listening and humble, O God.
As I read it! 
Thank you Barry for your comments on this passage. I found them most helpful and meaningful.
God bless you.
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Thank you. I am finding reading again and commenting on this epistle a blessing to myself. Paul is dealing with many problems at Corinth and they are so similar to the problems we live with in the church these days! God bless. Barry
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