¹³ Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized in the name of Paul?^{(A) 14} I thank God that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus^(B) and Gaius,^{(C) 15} so no one can say that you were baptized in my name. ¹⁶ (Yes, I also baptized the household^(D) of Stephanas;^(E) beyond that, I don’t remember if I baptized anyone else.) ¹⁷ For Christ did not send me to baptize,^(F) but to preach the gospel—not with wisdom^(G) 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^(H) to those who are perishing,^(I) but to us who are being saved^(J) it is the power of God.^{(K) 19} For it is written:

²⁴ “But in those days, following that distress,

²⁶ “At that time people will see the Son of Man coming in clouds^(B) with great power and glory. ²⁷ And he will send his angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of the heavens.^(C)

²⁸ “Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. ²⁹ Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that it^[b] is near, right at the door. ³⁰ Truly I tell you, this generation^(D) will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened.^{(E) 31} Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.^(F)

The Day and Hour Unknown

³² “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.^{(G) 33} Be on guard! Be alert^[c]!^(H) You do not know when that time will come. ³⁴ It’s like a man going away: He leaves his house and puts his servants^(I) in charge, each with their assigned task, and tells the one at the door to keep watch.

³⁵ “Therefore keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back—whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or at dawn. ³⁶ If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping. ³⁷ What I say to you, I say to everyone: ‘Watch!’”^(J)