Paul writes that God chose 'the lowborn things of the world' (ta agenē, 1 Corinthians 1:28) to shame the powerful. The adjective contrasts with 'eugenēs' (wellborn, noble)—these are people without distinguished ancestry or social pedigree. In classical usage it could mean 'unborn' or 'ignoble,' but here clearly denotes low social status. God's election deliberately inverts human hierarchies, choosing the nobodies to nullify the somebodies. This continues Paul's theme from verses 26-27: not many wise, powerful, or noble were called—God chose the foolish, weak, and lowborn.