Greeting

1 Paul,^(A) called as an apostle^(B) of Christ Jesus by God’s will,^(C) and Sosthenes our brother:^(D)

² To God’s church at Corinth,^(E) to those who are sanctified^(F) in Christ Jesus and called^(G) as saints, with all those in every place who call on the name^(H) of Jesus Christ our Lord—both their Lord and ours.

³ Grace to you and peace from God our Father^(I) and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Thanksgiving

⁴ I always thank^(J) my God for you because of God’s grace given to you in Christ Jesus, ⁵ that by Him you were enriched^(K) in everything—in all speech and all knowledge.^{(L) 6} In this way, the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you,^{(M) 7} so that you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait^(N) for the revelation^(O) of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁸ He will also strengthen you to the end,^(P) so that you will be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.^{(Q) 9} God is faithful;^(R) you were called by Him^(S) into fellowship with His Son,^(T) Jesus Christ our Lord.

Divisions at Corinth

¹⁰ Now I urge you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree in what you say, that there be no divisions among you, and that you be united with the same understanding and the same conviction. ¹¹ For it has been reported to me about you, my brothers, by members of Chloe’s household, that there is rivalry^(U) among you. ¹² What I am saying is this: Each of you says, “I’m with Paul,” or “I’m with Apollos,”^(V) or “I’m with Cephas,”^(W) or “I’m with Christ.”^{(X) 13} Is Christ divided?^(Y) Was it Paul who was crucified for you? Or were you baptized in Paul’s name? ¹⁴ I thank God^[a][b] that I baptized none of you except Crispus^(Z) and Gaius,^{(AA) 15} so that no one can say you were baptized in my name. ¹⁶ I did, in fact, baptize the household^(AB) of Stephanas;^(AC) beyond that, I don’t know if I baptized anyone else. ¹⁷ For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to evangelize—not with clever words, so that the cross^(AD) of Christ will not be emptied of its effect.

Christ the Power and Wisdom of God

¹⁸ For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but it is God’s power to us who are being saved.^{(AE) 19} For it is written:

²⁰ Where is the philosopher?^[d] Where is the scholar? Where is the debater of this age?^(AG) Hasn’t God made the world’s wisdom foolish? ²¹ For since, in God’s wisdom, the world did not know God through wisdom, God was pleased to save those who believe through the foolishness of the message preached. ²² For the Jews ask for signs^(AH) and the Greeks seek wisdom, ²³ but we preach Christ crucified,^(AI) a stumbling block to the Jews and foolishness to the Gentiles.^{[e] 24} Yet to those who are called,^(AJ) both Jews and Greeks, Christ is God’s power and God’s wisdom, ²⁵ because God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God’s weakness is stronger than human strength.

Boasting Only in the Lord

²⁶ Brothers, consider your calling: Not many are wise from a human perspective,^[f] not many powerful,^(AK) not many of noble birth. ²⁷ Instead, God has chosen^(AL) what is foolish in the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen what is weak in the world to shame the strong. ²⁸ God has chosen what is insignificant and despised in the world^(AM)—what is viewed as nothing—to bring to nothing what is viewed as something, ²⁹ so that no one^[g] can boast in His presence.^{(AN) 30} But it is from Him that you are in Christ Jesus, who became God-given wisdom for us—our righteousness,^(AO) sanctification,^(AP) and redemption,^{(AQ) 31} in order that, as it is written:^(AR) The one who boasts must boast in the Lord.^(AS)[h]