1 Corinthians 1

Greetings from Paul

1 Paul, called [to be] an apostle of Christ Jesus by [the] will of God, and [our] brother Sosthenes, 2 To the church of God in Corinth, [to those] sanctified in Christ Jesus [and] called [to be] holy, together with all those everywhere [who] call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their [Lord] and ours: 3 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and [the] Lord Jesus Christ.

Thanksgiving

4 I always thank my God for you because of the grace [He] has given you in Christ Jesus. 5 For in Him you have been enriched in every way, in all speech and all knowledge, 6 because [our] testimony about Christ was confirmed in you. 7 Therefore you do not lack [any] spiritual gift as you eagerly await the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ. 8 [He] will sustain you to [the] end, [so that you will be] blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God, who has called you into fellowship with His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, [is] faithful.

Unity in the Church

10 I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree together, [so that] there may be no divisions among you and [that] you may be united in mind and conviction. 11 My brothers, some from Chloe’s household have informed me that there are quarrels among you. 12 What I mean [is] this: Individuals among you are saying, “I [follow] Paul,” “I [follow] Apollos,” “I [follow] Cephas,” ▼

▼That is, Peter

[or] “I [follow] Christ.” 13 {Is} Christ divided? {Was} Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized into the name of Paul? 14 I thank God that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15 so no one can say that you were baptized into my name. 16 Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas; beyond that I do not remember baptizing anyone else. 17 For Christ {did} not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with words of wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of [its] power.

The Message of the Cross

18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is [the] power of God. 19 For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.” ▼

▼Isaiah 29:14

20 Where [is the] wise [man] ? Where [is] [the] scribe? Where [is] [the] philosopher of this age? {Has} not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since in the wisdom of God, the world through [its] wisdom {did} not know [Him] , God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. 22 Jews demand signs and Greeks search for wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ [the] power of God and [the] wisdom of God. 25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s [wisdom] , and the weakness of God [is] stronger than man’s [strength] .

Wisdom from God

26 Brothers, consider [ the time of ] your calling: Not many [of you] [were] wise by human standards; not many [were] powerful; not many [were] of noble birth. 27 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 28 [He] chose the lowly and despised things of the world, and the things that are not, to nullify the things that are, 29 so that no [one] may boast in [His] presence. 30 [It is] because of Him [that] you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God: [our] righteousness, holiness, and redemption. 31 Therefore, as it is written: “ {Let} him who boasts boast in [the] Lord.” ▼

▼Jeremiah 9:24