1 Corinthians 1:31

That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.

1 Corinthians 1:31 (KJV)

Context

Paul writes to a church in Corinth that was dividing over human leaders and prized eloquence and status. In the preceding verses he contrasts the wisdom of God with the wisdom of the world, showing that God chose the foolish, weak, and despised things of the world to shame the wise and strong, so that no one may boast before Him (1 Corinthians 1:26-29). Verse 31 then seals that argument with a quotation from the Old Testament.

Meaning

The phrase “according as it is written” signals a direct quotation. Paul draws from Jeremiah 9:24, where the prophet contrasts boasting in human wisdom, strength, or riches with glorying in knowing and understanding the Lord. The main message is clear: if anyone desires to boast, let him boast in the Lord. This redirects all legitimate pride away from personal accomplishments, abilities, or possessions and toward God Himself.

The instruction is not merely a general call to humility. It is a specific corrective to Corinthian pride in human wisdom and status. Because the believer’s life in Christ Jesus comes entirely from God—who is made unto us wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption (1 Corinthians 1:30)—there is no room for self-congratulation. Every worthy thing a believer has is a gift of divine grace.

Biblical connections

Paul repeats this same principle in 2 Corinthians 10:17, applying it to those who measure themselves by human standards. The Old Testament background also includes Hannah’s song in 1 Samuel 2:10, where glorying in the Lord is tied to His sovereign power. Together these passages establish a consistent biblical theme: human boasting is excluded because salvation and every spiritual blessing come by grace through faith, not by works (Ephesians 2:8-9).

Application

This verse calls believers to examine what they are tempted to boast about. Success, intelligence, reputation, and spiritual progress can easily become sources of pride. The remedy is to trace every good gift back to its Giver and to rejoice in His character, His salvation, and His ongoing work. Glorying in the Lord means shifting the focus from self to God, from human achievement to divine grace.

Reflection

True wisdom begins with knowing God, and true boasting finds its only safe object in Him. When the believer’s life becomes a continual offering of praise to the Lord, the pride that divides and deceives loses its hold. All glory belongs to God alone.