25. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
This is a confirmation of what precedes. The gospel is thus efficacious, because the lowest manifestation of divine wisdom exceeds the highest results of the wisdom of men ; and the lowest exercise of God's power is more effectual than all human strength. Or, instead of taking the verse in this gen- eral sense, the foolishness of God^ may mean the gospel. The meaning then is, ' The doctrine of the cross, though regarded as absurd and powerless, has more of power and wisdom than any thing which ever proceeded from man.'
26. For ye see your caUing, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble (are called).
The connection is not with the preceding verse but with the whole preceding context. The apostle introduces a new argument in proof of the uselessness of human wisdom. The argument is derived from their religious experience. ' You see, brethren, it is not the wise who are called.'
Your calling {KXr}(n<s) does not mean mode of life, profes- sion, or station, as the word vocation often does with us. The Greek word is never used in this sense in the New Testament, unless 1 Cor. 7, 20 be an exception. It always refers to the call of God by his word and Spirit. It is to be so understood here. *You see, brethren, your conversion, that not many wise are converted.' In this sense we speak of " effectual
Wise after the fleshy i. e. wise with human wisdom. Flesh in Scripture often means human nature. There are two kinds of wisdom, the one human, the other divine. There are, therefore, two classes of wise men ; those possessing the wis- dom which is from men, and those who have the wisdom which comes from God. Few of the former class become Christians ; therefore it is not by wisdom that men find out God, which is what the apostle designs to prove.
Not many mighty^ i. e. the great (ot Swaroi, those having Sum/x-ts, in the sense of power and authority). The opposite class is designated as the weak or uninfluenti^l, see Acts 25, 5. Not many noble^ i. e. well-bom. The converts to Christi- anity were not in general from the higher ranks in society.