11 Paul, [a] called apostle of Jesus Christ, by God's will, and Sosthenes the brother, 2 to the assembly of God which is in Corinth, to [those] sanctified in Christ Jesus, called saints, with all that in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both theirs and ours: 3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and [the] Lord Jesus Christ.
4 I thank my God always about you, in respect of the grace of God given to you in Christ Jesus; 5 that in everything ye have been enriched in him, in all word [of doctrine], and all knowledge, 6 (according as the testimony of the Christ has been confirmed in you,) 7 so that ye come short in no gift, awaiting the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ; 8 who shall also confirm you to [the] end, unimpeachable in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God [is] faithful, by whom ye have been called into [the] fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.
10 Now I exhort you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all say the same thing, and that there be not among you divisions; but that ye be perfectly united in the same mind and in the same opinion. 11 For it has been shewn to me concerning you, my brethren, by those of [the house of] Chloe, that there are strifes among you. 12 But I speak of this, that each of you says, I am of Paul, and I of Apollos, and I of Cephas, and I of Christ. 13 Is the Christ divided? has Paul been crucified for you? or have ye been baptised unto the name of Paul?
14 I thank God that I have baptised none of you, unless Crispus and Gaius, 15 that no one may say that I have baptised unto my own name. 16 Yes, I baptised also the house of Stephanas; for the rest I know not if I have baptised any other.
17 For Christ has not sent me to baptise, but to preach glad tidings; not in wisdom of word, that the cross of the Christ may not be made vain.
18 For the word of the cross is to them that perish foolishness, but to us that are saved it is God's power. 19 For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and set aside the understanding of the understanding ones. 20 Where [is the] wise? where scribe? where disputer of this world? has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world by wisdom has not known God, God has been pleased by the foolishness of the preaching to save those that believe. 22 Since Jews indeed ask for signs, and Greeks seek wisdom; 23 but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews an offence, and to nations foolishness; 24 but to those that [are] called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ God's power and God's wisdom. 25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. 26 For consider your calling, brethren, that [there are] not many wise according to flesh, not many powerful, not many high-born. 27 But God has chosen the foolish things of the world, that he may put to shame the wise; and God has chosen the weak things of the world, that he may put to shame the strong things; 28 and the ignoble things of the world, and the despised, has God chosen, [and] things that are not, that he may annul the things that are; 29 so that no flesh should boast before God. 30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who has been made to us wisdom from God, and righteousness, and holiness, and redemption; 31 that according as it is written, He that boasts, let him boast in [the] Lord.
21 And I, when I came to you, brethren, came not in excellency of word, or wisdom, announcing to you the testimony of God. 2 For I did not judge [it well] to know anything among you save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. 3 And I was with you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling; 4 and my word and my preaching, not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of [the] Spirit and of power; 5 that your faith might not stand in men's wisdom, but in God's power.
6 But we speak wisdom among the perfect; but wisdom not of this world, nor of the rulers of this world, who come to nought. 7 But we speak God's wisdom in [a] mystery, that hidden [wisdom] which God had predetermined before the ages for our glory: 8 which none of the princes of this age knew, (for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory;) 9 but according as it is written, Things which eye has not seen, and ear not heard, and which have not come into man's heart, which God has prepared for them that love him, 10 but God has revealed to us by [his] Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God. 11 For who of men hath known the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? thus also the things of God knows no one except the Spirit of God. 12 But we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which [is] of God, that we may know the things which have been freely given to us of God: 13 which also we speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, communicating spiritual [things] by spiritual [means]. 14 But [the] natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him; and he cannot know [them] because they are spiritually discerned; 15 but the spiritual discerns all things, and he is discerned of no one. 16 For who has known the mind of [the] Lord, who shall instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.
31 And I, brethren, have not been able to speak to you as to spiritual, but as to fleshly; as to babes in Christ. 2 I have given you milk to drink, not meat, for ye have not yet been able, nor indeed are ye yet able; 3 for ye are yet carnal. For whereas [there are] among you emulation and strife, are ye not carnal, and walk according to man? 4 For when one says, I am of Paul, and another, I of Apollos, are ye not men?
5 Who then is Apollos, and who Paul? Ministering servants, through whom ye have believed, and as the Lord has given to each. 6 I have planted; Apollos watered; but God has given the increase. 7 So that neither the planter is anything, nor the waterer; but God the giver of the increase. 8 But the planter and the waterer are one; but each shall receive his own reward according to his own labour. 9 For we are God's fellow-workmen; ye are God's husbandry, God's building. 10 According to the grace of God which has been given to me, as a wise architect, I have laid the foundation, but another builds upon it. But let each see how he builds upon it.
11 For other foundation can no man lay besides that which [is] laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if any one build upon [this] foundation, gold, silver, precious stones, wood, grass, straw, 13 the work of each shall be made manifest; for the day shall declare [it], because it is revealed in fire; and the fire shall try the work of each what it is. 14 If the work of any one which he has built upon [the foundation] shall abide, he shall receive a reward. 15 If the work of any one shall be consumed, he shall suffer loss, but he shall be saved, but so as through [the] fire.
16 Do ye not know that ye are [the] temple of God, and [that] the Spirit of God dwells in you? 17 If any one corrupt the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, and such are ye.
18 Let no one deceive himself: if any one thinks himself to be wise among you in this world, let him become foolish, that he may be wise. 19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God; for it is written, He who takes the wise in their craftiness. 20 And again, [The] Lord knows the reasonings of the wise that they are vain.
21 So that let no one boast in men; for all things are yours. 22 Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or [the] world, or life, or death, or things present, or things coming, all are yours; 23 and ye [are] Christ's, and Christ [is] God's.
41 Let a man so account of us as servants of Christ, and stewards of [the] mysteries of God. 2 Here, further, it is sought in stewards, that a man be found faithful. 3 But for me it is the very smallest matter that I be examined of you or of man's day. Nor do I even examine myself. 4 For I am conscious of nothing in myself; but I am not justified by this: but he that examines me is the Lord. 5 So that do not judge anything before [the] time, until the Lord shall come, who shall also both bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and shall make manifest the counsels of hearts; and then shall each have [his] praise from God. 6 Now these things, brethren, I have transferred, in their application, to myself and Apollos, for your sakes, that ye may learn in us the [lesson of] not [letting your thoughts go] above what is written, that ye may not be puffed up one for [such a] one against another.
7 For who makes thee to differ? and what hast thou which thou hast not received? but if also thou hast received, why boastest thou as not receiving? 8 Already ye are filled; already ye have been enriched; ye have reigned without us; and I would that ye reigned, that we also might reign with you. 9 For I think that God has set us the apostles for the last, as appointed to death. For we have become a spectacle to the world, both to angels and men. 10 We [are] fools for Christ's sake, but ye prudent in Christ: we weak, but ye strong: ye glorious, but we in dishonour. 11 To the present hour we both hunger and thirst, and are in nakedness, and buffeted, and wander without a home, 12 and labour, working with our own hands. Railed at, we bless; persecuted, we suffer [it]; 13 insulted, we entreat: we are become as [the] offscouring of the world, [the] refuse of all, until now.
14 Not [as] chiding do I write these things to you, but as my beloved children I admonish [you]. 15 For if ye should have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet not many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the glad tidings. 16 I entreat you therefore, be my imitators.
17 For this reason I have sent to you Timotheus, who is my beloved and faithful child in [the] Lord, who shall put you in mind of my ways [as] they [are] in Christ, according as I teach everywhere in every assembly. 18 But some have been puffed up, as if I were not coming to you; 19 but I will come quickly to you, if the Lord will; and I will know, not the word of those that are puffed up, but the power. 20 For the kingdom of God [is] not in word, but in power. 21 What will ye? that I come to you with a rod; or in love, and [in] a spirit of meekness?
