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Paul, a called Apostle of Jesus Christ, through the will of God, and brother Sosthenes,

to the Church of God, which is at Corinth; to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus (Saints by calling) with all that call on the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ, in every place, both theirs and ours:

Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

I thank my God always on your behalf for the grace of God which is given you in Jesus Christ.

That in all things you are made rich in Him in every expression and in all knowledge.

As the testimony of Jesus Christ has been confirmed in you.

So that you are not deficient in any gift, awaiting the unveiling of our Lord Jesus Christ,

Who shall also confirm you to the end, that you may be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

God is faithful; by Whom you are called to the fellowship of his son Jesus Christ our Lord.

10 Now I urge you, brothers, by the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak one thing, and that there be no dissensions among you. But be joined together in one mind, and in one judgment.

11 For it has been declared to me, my brothers, by those who are of the house of Chloe, that there is strife among you.

12 Now I say this: that each one of you says, “I am Paul’s”, and “I am Apollos’s”, and “I am Cephas’s” and “I am Christ’s”.

13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized into the name of Paul?

14 I thank God that I baptized none of you, but rather Crispus and Gaius,

15 lest anyone should say that I had baptized into my own name.

16 Now I also baptized the household of Stephanas. But I do not know whether I baptized any other besides that.

17 For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the Gospel (not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect).

18 For the preaching of the cross is to those who perish, foolishness. But to us who are saved, it is the power of God.

19 For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will cast away the understanding of the prudent.”

20 Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this world? Has not God made the wisdom of this world foolishness?

21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world in its own wisdom did not know God, it pleased God, by the foolishness of preaching, to save those who believe;

22 seeing also that the Jews require a sign, and the Grecians seek after wisdom.

23 But we preach Christ crucified, indeed a stumbling block to the Jews and foolishness to the Grecians.

24 But to those who are called, both of the Jews and Grecians, we preach Christ: the power of God and the wisdom of God.

25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than man, and the weakness of God is stronger than man.

26 For brothers, you see your calling: how that not many are wise after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble.

27 But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise. And God has chosen the weak things of the world to confound the mighty things.

28 And vile things of the world, and things which are despised, God has chosen, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are.

29 That no flesh should boast in His presence.

30 But you are of Him in Christ Jesus, Who, out of God, is made wisdom and righteousness to us, and sanctification, and redemption.

31 That it may be as it is written, ‘The one who boasts, let him boast in the Lord’.

Paul, called to be an apostle(A) of Christ Jesus by the will of God,(B) and our brother Sosthenes,(C)

To the church of God(D) in Corinth,(E) to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called(F) to be his holy people, together with all those everywhere who call on the name(G) of our Lord Jesus Christ—their Lord and ours:

Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.(H)

Thanksgiving

I always thank my God for you(I) because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus. For in him you have been enriched(J) in every way—with all kinds of speech and with all knowledge(K) God thus confirming our testimony(L) about Christ among you. Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift(M) as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed.(N) He will also keep you firm to the end, so that you will be blameless(O) on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.(P) God is faithful,(Q) who has called you(R) into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.(S)

A Church Divided Over Leaders

10 I appeal to you, brothers and sisters,[a](T) in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you,(U) but that you be perfectly united(V) in mind and thought. 11 My brothers and sisters, some from Chloe’s household(W) have informed me that there are quarrels among you. 12 What I mean is this: One of you says, “I follow Paul”;(X) another, “I follow Apollos”;(Y) another, “I follow Cephas[b]”;(Z) still another, “I follow Christ.”

13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized in the name of Paul?(AA) 14 I thank God that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus(AB) and Gaius,(AC) 15 so no one can say that you were baptized in my name. 16 (Yes, I also baptized the household(AD) of Stephanas;(AE) beyond that, I don’t remember if I baptized anyone else.) 17 For Christ did not send me to baptize,(AF) but to preach the gospel—not with wisdom(AG) and eloquence, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.

Christ Crucified Is God’s Power and Wisdom

18 For the message of the cross is foolishness(AH) to those who are perishing,(AI) but to us who are being saved(AJ) it is the power of God.(AK) 19 For it is written:

“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise;
    the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”[c](AL)

20 Where is the wise person?(AM) Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age?(AN) Has not God made foolish(AO) the wisdom of the world? 21 For since in the wisdom of God the world(AP) through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save(AQ) those who believe.(AR) 22 Jews demand signs(AS) and Greeks look for wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified:(AT) a stumbling block(AU) to Jews and foolishness(AV) to Gentiles, 24 but to those whom God has called,(AW) both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God(AX) and the wisdom of God.(AY) 25 For the foolishness(AZ) of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness(BA) of God is stronger than human strength.

26 Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called.(BB) Not many of you were wise(BC) by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose(BD) the foolish(BE) things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 28 God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not(BF)—to nullify the things that are, 29 so that no one may boast before him.(BG) 30 It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus,(BH) who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness,(BI) holiness(BJ) and redemption.(BK) 31 Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.”[d](BL)

Footnotes

  1. 1 Corinthians 1:10 The Greek word for brothers and sisters (adelphoi) refers here to believers, both men and women, as part of God’s family; also in verses 11 and 26; and in 2:1; 3:1; 4:6; 6:8; 7:24, 29; 10:1; 11:33; 12:1; 14:6, 20, 26, 39; 15:1, 6, 50, 58; 16:15, 20.
  2. 1 Corinthians 1:12 That is, Peter
  3. 1 Corinthians 1:19 Isaiah 29:14
  4. 1 Corinthians 1:31 Jer. 9:24