1Paul, called by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and our brother Sosthenes, (Ro 1:1; 2Co 1:1; Eph 1:1; Col 1:1; 2Ti 1:1)2To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours: (Joh 17:19; Ac 9:14; Ro 1:7; 1Co 1:30; 1Co 6:11)3Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. (1Co 1:2)
10I appeal to you, brothers,[1] by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment. (1Co 11:18; Php 1:27)11For it has been reported to me by Chloe’s people that there is quarreling among you, my brothers. (1Co 3:3)12What I mean is that each one of you says, “I follow Paul,” or “I follow Apollos,” or “I follow Cephas,” or “I follow Christ.” (Mt 23:9; Joh 1:42; Ac 18:24; 1Co 3:4)13Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? (Ac 8:16; 1Co 12:5; 2Co 11:4; Eph 4:5)14I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, (Ac 18:8; Ro 16:23)15so that no one may say that you were baptized in my name.16(I did baptize also the household of Stephanas. Beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized anyone else.) (1Co 16:15; 1Co 16:17)17For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power. (1Co 2:1; 1Co 2:4; 1Co 2:13; 2Co 10:10; 2Co 11:6; 2Pe 1:16)
Christ the Wisdom and Power of God
18For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. (Ac 2:47; Ro 1:16; 1Co 1:21; 1Co 1:23; 1Co 1:24; 1Co 1:25; 1Co 2:14; 1Co 15:2; 2Co 2:15; 2Co 4:3; 2Th 2:10)19For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.” (Job 5:12; Isa 29:14; Jer 8:9; Mt 11:25)20Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? (Isa 19:12; Isa 44:25; Ro 1:22; 1Co 1:26; 1Co 2:6; 1Co 3:19)21For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach[2] to save those who believe.22For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, (Mt 12:38)23but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, (Ga 5:11; 1Pe 2:8)24but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. (Lu 11:49; 1Co 1:18; 1Co 1:30; Col 2:3)25For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.26For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards,[3] not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. (Mt 11:25; Joh 7:48; 1Co 1:20; 1Co 2:8)27But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; (Ps 8:2; Jas 2:5)28God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, (Job 34:19; Job 34:24; Ro 4:17; 1Co 2:6)29so that no human being[4] might boast in the presence of God. (Jud 7:2; Eph 2:9)30And because of him[5] you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, (Jer 23:5; Jer 33:16; Ro 3:24; 1Co 1:2; 1Co 1:24; 2Co 5:21; Eph 1:7; Php 3:9; Col 1:14)31so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” (Jer 9:23; 2Co 10:17)
1 Corinthians 1
New International Version
1Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and our brother Sosthenes,2To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be his holy people, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ – their Lord and ours:3Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Thanksgiving
4I always thank my God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus.5For in him you have been enriched in every way – with all kinds of speech and with all knowledge –6God thus confirming our testimony about Christ among you.7Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed.8He will also keep you firm to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.9God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
A church divided over leaders
10I appeal to you, brothers and sisters,[1] 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, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought.11My brothers and sisters, some from Chloe’s household have informed me that there are quarrels among you.12What I mean is this: one of you says, ‘I follow Paul’; another, ‘I follow Apollos’; another, ‘I follow Cephas[2]’; still another, ‘I follow Christ.’13Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptised in the name of Paul?14I thank God that I did not baptise any of you except Crispus and Gaius,15so no-one can say that you were baptised in my name.16(Yes, I also baptised the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I don’t remember if I baptised anyone else.)17For Christ did not send me to baptise, but to preach the gospel – not with wisdom and eloquence, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.
Christ crucified is God’s power and wisdom
18For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.19For it is written: ‘I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.’ (Isa 29:14)20Where is the wise person? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?21For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.22Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom,23but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling-block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles,24but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.25For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.26Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth.27But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.28God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things – and the things that are not – to nullify the things that are,29so that no-one may boast before him.30It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God – that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.31Therefore, as it is written: ‘Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.’ (Jer 9:24)