1 Corinthians 1:8-30
King James Version
8 Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
9 God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.
10 Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.
11 For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you.
12 Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ.
13 Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?
14 I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius;
15 Lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name.
16 And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any other.
17 For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.
18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
19 For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.
20 Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?
21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.
22 For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:
23 But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;
24 But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.
25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
26 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:
27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;
28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:
29 That no flesh should glory in his presence.
30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:
Read full chapter
1 Corinthians 1:8-30
English Standard Version
8 (A)who will sustain you to the end, (B)guiltless (C)in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 (D)God is faithful, by whom you were called into the (E)fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Divisions in the Church
10 I appeal to you, brothers,[a] by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no (F)divisions among you, but that you be united (G)in the same mind and the same judgment. 11 For it has been reported to me by Chloe's people that there is (H)quarreling among you, my brothers. 12 What I mean is that (I)each one of you says, “I follow Paul,” or “I follow (J)Apollos,” or “I follow (K)Cephas,” or “I follow Christ.” 13 (L)Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you (M)baptized in the name of Paul? 14 I thank God that I baptized none of you except (N)Crispus and (O)Gaius, 15 so that no one may say that you were baptized in my name. 16 (I did baptize also (P)the household of Stephanas. Beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized anyone else.) 17 For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and (Q)not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.
Christ the Wisdom and Power of God
18 For the word of the cross is (R)folly to (S)those who are perishing, but to us (T)who are being saved it is (U)the power of God. 19 For it is written,
(V)“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,
and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.”
20 (W)Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? (X)Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach[b] to save those who believe. 22 For (Y)Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ (Z)crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, 24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ (AA)the power of God and (AB)the wisdom of God. 25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
26 For consider your calling, brothers: (AC)not many of you were wise according to worldly standards,[c] not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. 27 But (AD)God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; (AE)God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; 28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, even (AF)things that are not, to (AG)bring to nothing things that are, 29 so (AH)that no human being[d] might boast in the presence of God. 30 And because of him[e] you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us (AI)wisdom from God, (AJ)righteousness and (AK)sanctification and (AL)redemption,
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 1 Corinthians 1:10 Or brothers and sisters. In New Testament usage, depending on the context, the plural Greek word adelphoi (translated “brothers”) may refer either to brothers or to brothers and sisters; also verses 11, 26
- 1 Corinthians 1:21 Or the folly of preaching
- 1 Corinthians 1:26 Greek according to the flesh
- 1 Corinthians 1:29 Greek no flesh
- 1 Corinthians 1:30 Greek And from him
1 Corinthians 1:8-30
Christian Standard Bible
8 He will also strengthen you to the end,(A) so that you will be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.(B) 9 God is faithful;(C) you were called by him(D) into fellowship with his Son,(E) Jesus Christ our Lord.
Divisions at Corinth
10 Now I urge you, brothers and sisters, 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 and sisters, by members of Chloe’s people, that there is rivalry(F) among you. 12 What I am saying is this: One of you says, “I belong to Paul,” or “I belong to Apollos,”(G) or “I belong to Cephas,”(H) or “I belong to Christ.”(I) 13 Is Christ divided?(J) Was Paul 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(K) and Gaius,(L) 15 so that no one can say you were baptized in my name. 16 I did, in fact, baptize the household(M) of Stephanas;(N) beyond that, I don’t recall if I baptized anyone else. 17 For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel—not with eloquent wisdom, so that the cross(O) of Christ will not be emptied of its effect.
Christ the Power and Wisdom of God
18 For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but it is the power of God to us who are being saved.(P) 19 For it is written,
I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,
and I will set aside the intelligence of the intelligent.[c](Q)
20 Where is the one who is wise? Where is the teacher of the law?[d] Where is the debater of this age?(R) 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 what is preached. 22 For the Jews ask for signs(S) and the Greeks seek wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified,(T) a stumbling block to the Jews and foolishness to the Gentiles.[e] 24 Yet to those who are called,(U) both Jews and Greeks, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God, 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 and sisters, consider your calling: Not many were wise from a human perspective,[f] not many powerful,(V) not many of noble birth. 27 Instead, God has chosen(W) 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(X)—what is viewed as nothing—to bring to nothing what is viewed as something, 29 so that no one[g] may boast in his presence.(Y) 30 It is from him that you are in Christ Jesus, who became wisdom from God for us—our righteousness,(Z) sanctification,(AA) and redemption(AB)—
Read full chapter
1 Corinthians 1:8-30
New American Standard Bible 1995
8 (A)who will also confirm you to the end, blameless in (B)the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 (C)God is faithful, through whom you were (D)called into (E)fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
10 Now (F)I exhort you, (G)brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all [a]agree and that there be no [b](H)divisions among you, but that you be [c]made complete in (I)the same mind and in the same judgment. 11 For I have been informed concerning you, my brethren, by Chloe’s people, that there are quarrels among you. 12 Now I mean this, that (J)each one of you is saying, “I am of Paul,” and “I of (K)Apollos,” and “I of (L)Cephas,” and “I of Christ.” 13 [d]Has Christ been divided? Paul was not crucified for you, was he? Or were you (M)baptized [e]in the name of Paul? 14 [f]I thank God that I (N)baptized none of you except (O)Crispus and (P)Gaius, 15 so that no one would say you were baptized [g]in my name. 16 Now I did baptize also the (Q)household of Stephanas; beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized any other. 17 (R)For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, (S)not in [h]cleverness of speech, so that the cross of Christ would not be made void.
The Wisdom of God
18 For the word of the cross is (T)foolishness to (U)those who [i]are perishing, but to us who [j]are being saved it is (V)the power of God. 19 For it is written,
“(W)I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,
And the cleverness of the clever I will set aside.”
20 (X)Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of (Y)this age? Has not God (Z)made foolish the wisdom of (AA)the world? 21 For since in the wisdom of God (AB)the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, (AC)God was well-pleased through the (AD)foolishness of the [k]message preached to (AE)save those who believe. 22 For indeed (AF)Jews ask for [l]signs and Greeks search for wisdom; 23 but we preach [m](AG)Christ crucified, (AH)to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles (AI)foolishness, 24 but to those who are (AJ)the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ (AK)the power of God and (AL)the wisdom of God. 25 Because the (AM)foolishness of God is wiser than men, and (AN)the weakness of God is stronger than men.
26 For [n]consider your (AO)calling, brethren, that there were (AP)not many wise according to [o]the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; 27 but (AQ)God has chosen the foolish things of (AR)the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of (AS)the world to shame the things which are strong, 28 and the base things of (AT)the world and the despised God has chosen, (AU)the things that are not, so that He may (AV)nullify the things that are, 29 so that (AW)no [p]man may boast before God. 30 But [q]by His doing you are in (AX)Christ Jesus, who became to us (AY)wisdom from God, [r]and (AZ)righteousness and (BA)sanctification, and (BB)redemption,
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 1 Corinthians 1:10 Lit speak the same thing
- 1 Corinthians 1:10 Lit schisms
- 1 Corinthians 1:10 Or united
- 1 Corinthians 1:13 Or Christ has been divided! or Christ is divided!
- 1 Corinthians 1:13 Lit into
- 1 Corinthians 1:14 Two early mss read I give thanks that
- 1 Corinthians 1:15 Lit into
- 1 Corinthians 1:17 Lit wisdom
- 1 Corinthians 1:18 Or perish
- 1 Corinthians 1:18 Or are saved
- 1 Corinthians 1:21 Lit preaching
- 1 Corinthians 1:22 Or attesting miracles
- 1 Corinthians 1:23 I.e. Messiah
- 1 Corinthians 1:26 Lit see
- 1 Corinthians 1:26 I.e. human standards
- 1 Corinthians 1:29 Lit flesh
- 1 Corinthians 1:30 Lit of Him
- 1 Corinthians 1:30 Or both
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.
The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible®, and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers, all rights reserved.
New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.
