Salutation
1 1 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 ."
[1] 1:1 Lit "through"
[2] 1:2 Or "holy ones"
[3] 1:4 Two early mss do not contain "my"
[4] 1:6 Or "among"
[5] 1:10 Lit "speak the same thing"
[6] 1:10 Lit "schisms"
[7] 1:10 Or "united"
[8] 1:13 Or "Christ has been divided!" or "Christ is divided!"
[9] 1:13 Lit "into"
[10] 1:14 Two early mss read "I give thanks that"
[11] 1:15 Lit "into"
[12] 1:17 Lit "wisdom"
[13] 1:18 Or "perish"
[14] 1:18 Or "are saved"
[15] 1:21 Lit "preaching"
[16] 1:22 Or "attesting miracles"
[17] 1:23 I.e. Messiah
[18] 1:26 Lit "see"
[19] 1:26 I.e. human standards
[20] 1:29 Lit "flesh"
[21] 1:30 Lit "of Him"
[22] 1:30 Or "both"