Salutation

11 Paul , called as an apostle of Jesus Christ [1]by the will of God , and Sosthenes our brother , 2 To the church of God which is at Corinth , to those who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus , [2]saints by calling , with all who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ , their Lord and ours : 3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ .

Thanksgiving for Spiritual Gifts

4 I thank [3]my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given you in Christ Jesus , 5 that in everything you were enriched in Him, in all speech and all knowledge , 6 even as the testimony concerning Christ was confirmed [4]in you, 7 so that you are not lacking in any gift , awaiting eagerly the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ , 8 who will also confirm you to the end , blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ . 9 God is faithful , through whom you were called into fellowship with His Son , Jesus Christ our Lord .

Divisions in the Church

10 Now I exhort you, brethren , by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ , that you all [5]agree e and that there be no [6] divisions among you, but that you be [7]made complete in the same mind and in the same judgment . 11 For I have been informed concerning you, my brethren , by Chloe's people, that there are quarrels among you. 12 Now I mean this , that each one of you is saying , "I am of Paul ," and "I of Apollos ," and "I of Cephas ," and "I of Christ ." 13 [8]Has Christ been divided ? Paul was not crucified for you, was he? Or were you baptized [9]in the name of Paul ?

14 [10]I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius , 15 so that no one would say you were baptized [11]in my name . 16 Now I did baptize also the household of Stephanas ; beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized any other .

17 For Christ did not send me to baptize , but to preach the gospel , not in [12]cleverness of speech , so that the cross of Christ would not be made void .

Christ the Power and Wisdom of God

18 For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who [13]are perishing , but to us who [14]are being saved it is the power of God . 19 For it is written , " I WILL DESTROY THE WISDOM OF THE WISE , AND THE CLEVERNESS OF THE CLEVER I WILL SET ASIDE ." 20 Where is the wise man ? Where is the scribe ? Where is the debater 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 come to know God , God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the [15]message preached to save those who believe . 22 For indeed Jews ask for [16]signs and Greeks search for wisdom ; 23 but we preach [17] Christ crucified , to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness , 24 but to those who are the called , both Jews and Greeks , Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God . 25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men , and the weakness of God is stronger than men . 26 For [18]consider your calling , brethren , that there were not many wise according to [19]the flesh , not many mighty , not many noble ; 27 but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise , and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong , 28 and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen , the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are, 29 so that no e [20]man may boast before God . 30 But [21]by His doing you are in Christ Jesus , who became to us wisdom from God , [22]and righteousness and sanctification , and redemption , 31 so that, just as it is written , " LET HIM WHO BOASTS , BOAST IN THE Lord ."