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 ."

Laborers Together with God

31 And I, brethren , could not speak to you as to spiritual men , but as to men of flesh , as to infants in Christ . 2 I gave you milk to drink , not solid food ; for you were not yet able to receive it. Indeed , even now you are not yet able , 3 for you are still fleshly . For since there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not fleshly , and are you not walking like mere men ? 4 For when one says , "I am of Paul ," and another , "I am of Apollos ," are you not mere men ?

5 What then is Apollos ? And what is Paul ? Servants through whom you believed , even as the Lord gave opportunity to each one . 6 I planted , Apollos watered , but God was causing the growth . 7 So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything , but God who causes the growth . 8 Now he who plants and he who waters are one ; but each will receive his own reward according to his own labor . 9 For we are God's fellow workers ; you are God's field , God's building . 10 According to the grace of God which was given to me, like a wise master builder I laid a foundation , and another is building on it. But each man must be careful how he builds on it.

11 For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid , which is Jesus Christ . 12 Now if any man builds on the foundation with gold , silver , precious stones , wood , hay , straw , 13 each man's work will become evident ; for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire , and the fire itself will test the quality of each man's work . 14 If any man's work which he has built on it remains , he will receive a reward . 15 If any man's work is burned up, he will suffer loss ; but he himself will be saved , yet so as through fire .

16 Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? 17 If any man destroys the temple of God , God will destroy him, for the temple of God is holy , and that is what you are.

18 Let no man deceive himself . If any man among you thinks that he is wise in this age , he must become foolish , so that he may become wise . 19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness before God . For it is written , "He is THE ONE WHO CATCHES THE WISE IN THEIR CRAFTINESS "; 20 and again , " THE Lord KNOWS THE REASONINGS of the wise , THAT THEY ARE USELESS ."

21 So then let no one boast in men . For all things belong to you, 22 whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or things present or things to come ; all things belong to you, 23 and you belong to Christ ; and Christ belongs to God .