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1 Corinthians 1-4
New American Standard Bible

Appeal to Unity

1 Paul, (A)called as an apostle of Jesus Christ [a]by (B)the will of God, and our (C)brother (D)Sosthenes,

2 To (E)the church of God which is in (F)Corinth, to those who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, [b]saints (G)by calling, with all who in every place (H)call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours:

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

4 (J)I thank [c]my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given you in Christ Jesus, 5 that in everything you were (K)enriched in Him, in all (L)speech and (M)all knowledge, 6 just as (N)the testimony concerning Christ was confirmed [d]in you, 7 so that you are not lacking in any gift, as you eagerly (O)await the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, 8 (P)who will also [e]confirm you to the end, blameless on (Q)the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 (R)God is faithful, through whom you were (S)called into (T)fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

10 Now (U)I urge you, (V)brothers and sisters, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all [f]agree and that there be no [g](W)divisions among you, but that you be [h]made complete in (X)the same mind and in the same judgment. 11 For I have been informed concerning you, my brothers and sisters, by Chloe’s people, that there are quarrels among you. 12 Now I mean this, that (Y)each one of you is saying, “I am [i]with Paul,” [j]or “I am [k]with (Z)Apollos,” [l]or “I am [m]with [n](AA)Cephas,” [o]or “I am [p]with Christ.” 13 [q]Has Christ been divided? Paul was not crucified for you, was he? Or were you (AB)baptized [r]in the name of Paul? 14 I am thankful that I (AC)baptized none of you except (AD)Crispus and (AE)Gaius, 15 so that no one would say you were baptized [s]in my name! 16 But I did baptize the (AF)household of Stephanas also; beyond that, I do not know if I baptized anyone else. 17 (AG)For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, (AH)not with [t]cleverness of speech, so that the cross of Christ would not be made of no effect.

The Wisdom of God

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

“(AL)I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,
And the understanding of those who have understanding, I will confound.”

20 (AM)Where is the wise person? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of (AN)this age? Has God not (AO)made foolish the wisdom of (AP)the world? 21 For since in the wisdom of God (AQ)the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, (AR)God [w]was pleased through the (AS)foolishness of the [x]message preached to (AT)save those who believe. 22 For indeed (AU)Jews ask for [y]signs and Greeks search for wisdom; 23 but we preach [z](AV)Christ crucified, (AW)to Jews a stumbling block, and to Gentiles (AX)foolishness, 24 but to those who are (AY)the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ (AZ)the power of God and (BA)the wisdom of God. 25 For the (BB)foolishness of God is wiser than mankind, and (BC)the weakness of God is stronger than mankind.

26 For [aa]consider your (BD)calling, brothers and sisters, that there were (BE)not many wise according to [ab]the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; 27 but (BF)God has chosen the foolish things of (BG)the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of (BH)the world to shame the things which are strong, 28 and the [ac]insignificant things of (BI)the world and the despised God has chosen, (BJ)the things that are not, so that He may (BK)nullify the things that are, 29 so that (BL)no [ad]human may boast before God. 30 But it is [ae]due to Him that you are in (BM)Christ Jesus, who became to us (BN)wisdom from God, [af]and (BO)righteousness and (BP)sanctification, and (BQ)redemption, 31 so that, just as it is written: “(BR)Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”

Paul’s Reliance upon the Spirit

2 And when I came to you, brothers and sisters, I (BS)did not come as someone superior in [ag]speaking ability or [ah]wisdom, as I proclaimed to you (BT)the [ai]testimony of God. 2 For I determined to know nothing among you except (BU)Jesus Christ, and Him crucified. 3 I also was with you in (BV)weakness and (BW)fear, and in great trembling, 4 and my [aj]message and my preaching were (BX)not in persuasive words of [ak]wisdom, but in demonstration of (BY)the Spirit and of power, 5 so that your faith would not [al]rest on the [am]wisdom of mankind, but on (BZ)the power of God.

6 Yet we do speak wisdom among those who are (CA)mature; a wisdom, however, not of (CB)this age nor of the rulers of (CC)this age, who are (CD)passing away; 7 but we speak God’s wisdom in a (CE)mystery, the hidden wisdom which God (CF)predestined before the (CG)ages to our glory; 8 the wisdom (CH)which none of the rulers of (CI)this age has understood; for if they had understood it, they would not have crucified (CJ)the Lord of glory; 9 but just as it is written:

“(CK)Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard,
And which have not entered the human heart,
All that God has prepared for those who love Him.”

10 [an](CL)For to us God revealed them (CM)through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the (CN)depths of God. 11 For who among people knows the thoughts of a person except the (CO)spirit of the person that is in him? So also the thoughts of God no one knows, except the Spirit of God. 12 Now we (CP)have not received the spirit of (CQ)the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God. 13 We also speak these things, (CR)not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, [ao]combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words.

14 But [ap]a (CS)natural person (CT)does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are (CU)foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. 15 But the one who is (CV)spiritual discerns all things, yet he himself is [aq]discerned by no one. 16 For (CW)who has known the mind of the Lord, that he will instruct Him? But (CX)we have the mind of Christ.

Foundations for Living

3 And I, brothers and sisters, could not speak to you as (CY)spiritual people, but only as (CZ)fleshly, as to (DA)infants in Christ. 2 I gave you (DB)milk to drink, not solid food; for you (DC)were not yet able to consume it. But even now you are not yet able, 3 for you are still fleshly. For since there is (DD)jealousy and strife among you, are you not fleshly, and are you not walking (DE)like ordinary people? 4 For when (DF)one person says, “I am [ar]with Paul,” and another, “I am [as]with Apollos,” are you not ordinary (DG)people?

5 What then is Apollos? And what is Paul? (DH)Servants through whom you believed, even (DI)as the Lord gave opportunity to each one. 6 (DJ)I planted, (DK)Apollos watered, but (DL)God was causing the growth. 7 So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth. 8 Now the one who plants and the one who waters are one; but each will (DM)receive his own [at]reward according to his own labor. 9 For we are God’s (DN)fellow workers; you are God’s [au](DO)field, God’s (DP)building.

10 According to (DQ)the grace of God which was given to me, like a wise master builder (DR)I laid a foundation, and (DS)another is building on it. But each person must be careful how he builds on it. 11 For no one can lay a (DT)foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, or straw, 13 (DU)each one’s work will become evident; for (DV)the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test [av]the quality of each one’s work. 14 If anyone’s work which he has built on it remains, he will (DW)receive a reward. 15 If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet only (DX)so as through fire.

16 (DY)Do you not know that (DZ)you are a [aw]temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? 17 If anyone destroys the [ax]temple of God, God will destroy [ay]that person; for the [az]temple of God is holy, [ba]and that is what you are.

18 (EA)Take care that no one deceives himself. (EB)If anyone among you thinks that he is wise in (EC)this age, he must become foolish, so that he may become wise. 19 For (ED)the wisdom of this world is foolishness in the sight of God. For it is written: “He is (EE)the one who catches the wise by their craftiness”; 20 and again, “(EF)The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are useless.” 21 So then, (EG)no one is to be boasting in people. For (EH)all things belong to you, 22 (EI)whether Paul or Apollos or [bb]Cephas, or the world or (EJ)life or death, or things present or things to come; all things belong to you, 23 and (EK)you belong to Christ, and (EL)Christ belongs to God.

Servants of Christ

4 This is the way any person is to regard us: as (EM)servants of Christ and (EN)stewards of (EO)the mysteries of God. 2 In this case, moreover, it is required [bc]of stewards that one be found trustworthy. 3 But to me it is an insignificant matter that I would be examined by you, or by any human [bd]court; in fact, I do not even examine myself. 4 For I (EP)am not aware of anything against myself; however I am not (EQ)vindicated by this, but the one who examines me is the Lord. 5 Therefore (ER)do not go on [be]passing judgment before [bf]the time, but wait (ES)until the Lord comes, who will both (ET)bring to light the things hidden in the darkness and disclose the motives of human hearts; and then (EU)praise will come to each person from God.

6 Now these things, brothers and sisters, I have figuratively applied to myself and Apollos on your account, so that in us you may learn not to exceed (EV)what is written, so that no one of you will (EW)become [bg]arrogant (EX)in behalf of one against the other. 7 For who considers you as superior? (EY)What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?

8 You are (EZ)already filled, you have already become rich, you have become kings without us; and indeed, I wish that you had become kings so that we also might reign with you! 9 For I think, God has exhibited us, the apostles, last of all as men (FA)condemned to death, because we (FB)have become a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to mankind. 10 We are (FC)fools on account of Christ, but (FD)you are prudent in Christ! (FE)We are weak, but you are strong! You are distinguished, but we are without honor! 11 Up to this present hour we are both (FF)hungry and thirsty, and are poorly clothed and roughly treated and homeless; 12 and we labor, (FG)working with our own hands; when we are (FH)verbally abused, we bless; when we are (FI)persecuted, we endure it; 13 when we are slandered, we [bh]reply as friends; we have (FJ)become as the scum of the world, the dregs of all things, even until now.

14 I do not write these things to (FK)shame you, but to admonish you as my beloved (FL)children. 15 For if you were to have countless (FM)tutors in Christ, yet you would not have many fathers, for in (FN)Christ Jesus I (FO)became your father through the (FP)gospel. 16 Therefore I urge you, be (FQ)imitators of me. 17 For this reason I (FR)have sent to you (FS)Timothy, who is my (FT)beloved and faithful child in the Lord, and he will remind you of my ways which are in Christ, (FU)just as I teach everywhere in every church. 18 Now some have become [bi](FV)arrogant, as though I were not (FW)coming to you. 19 But I (FX)will come to you soon, (FY)if the Lord wills, and I shall find out, not the [bj]words of those who are (FZ)arrogant, but their power. 20 For the kingdom of God is (GA)not in [bk]words, but in power. 21 What do you desire? (GB)That I come to you with a rod, or with love and a spirit of gentleness?

Footnotes

  1. 1 Corinthians 1:1 Lit through
  2. 1 Corinthians 1:2 Lit holy ones; i.e., God’s people
  3. 1 Corinthians 1:4 Two early mss do not contain my
  4. 1 Corinthians 1:6 Or among
  5. 1 Corinthians 1:8 Or strengthen
  6. 1 Corinthians 1:10 Lit say the same thing
  7. 1 Corinthians 1:10 Lit schisms
  8. 1 Corinthians 1:10 Or united
  9. 1 Corinthians 1:12 Lit of
  10. 1 Corinthians 1:12 Lit and
  11. 1 Corinthians 1:12 Lit of
  12. 1 Corinthians 1:12 Lit and
  13. 1 Corinthians 1:12 Lit of
  14. 1 Corinthians 1:12 Peter’s Aramaic name
  15. 1 Corinthians 1:12 Lit and
  16. 1 Corinthians 1:12 Lit of
  17. 1 Corinthians 1:13 Or Christ has been divided! or Christ is divided!
  18. 1 Corinthians 1:13 Lit into
  19. 1 Corinthians 1:15 Lit into
  20. 1 Corinthians 1:17 I.e., persuasive rhetoric
  21. 1 Corinthians 1:18 Or perish
  22. 1 Corinthians 1:18 Or are saved
  23. 1 Corinthians 1:21 Or resolved
  24. 1 Corinthians 1:21 Lit preaching
  25. 1 Corinthians 1:22 Or confirming miracles
  26. 1 Corinthians 1:23 I.e., the Messiah
  27. 1 Corinthians 1:26 Lit see
  28. 1 Corinthians 1:26 I.e., human standards
  29. 1 Corinthians 1:28 Or lowly
  30. 1 Corinthians 1:29 Lit flesh
  31. 1 Corinthians 1:30 Lit from Him
  32. 1 Corinthians 1:30 Or both
  33. 1 Corinthians 2:1 Lit speech
  34. 1 Corinthians 2:1 Or cleverness
  35. 1 Corinthians 2:1 One early ms mystery
  36. 1 Corinthians 2:4 Lit word
  37. 1 Corinthians 2:4 Or cleverness
  38. 1 Corinthians 2:5 Lit be
  39. 1 Corinthians 2:5 Or cleverness
  40. 1 Corinthians 2:10 One early ms But
  41. 1 Corinthians 2:13 Or interpreting spiritual things for spiritual people
  42. 1 Corinthians 2:14 Or an unspiritual
  43. 1 Corinthians 2:15 Or judged
  44. 1 Corinthians 3:4 Lit of
  45. 1 Corinthians 3:4 Lit of
  46. 1 Corinthians 3:8 Or wages
  47. 1 Corinthians 3:9 Or cultivated land
  48. 1 Corinthians 3:13 Lit of what sort each man’s work is
  49. 1 Corinthians 3:16 Or sanctuary
  50. 1 Corinthians 3:17 Or sanctuary
  51. 1 Corinthians 3:17 Lit this
  52. 1 Corinthians 3:17 Or sanctuary
  53. 1 Corinthians 3:17 Lit who you are
  54. 1 Corinthians 3:22 Peter’s Aramaic name
  55. 1 Corinthians 4:2 Lit in
  56. 1 Corinthians 4:3 Lit day
  57. 1 Corinthians 4:5 Lit judging anything
  58. 1 Corinthians 4:5 I.e., the appointed time of judgment
  59. 1 Corinthians 4:6 Lit puffed up
  60. 1 Corinthians 4:13 Or conciliate
  61. 1 Corinthians 4:18 Lit puffed up
  62. 1 Corinthians 4:19 Lit word
  63. 1 Corinthians 4:20 Lit word
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1 Corinthians 1-4
New International Version

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

2 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:

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

Thanksgiving

4 I always thank my God for you(I) because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus. 5 For in him you have been enriched(J) in every way—with all kinds of speech and with all knowledge(K)— 6 God thus confirming our testimony(L) about Christ among you. 7 Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift(M) as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed.(N) 8 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) 9 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)

2 And so it was with me, brothers and sisters. When I came to you, I did not come with eloquence or human wisdom(BM) as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God.[e] 2 For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.(BN) 3 I came to you(BO) in weakness(BP) with great fear and trembling.(BQ) 4 My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words,(BR) but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power,(BS) 5 so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power.(BT)

God’s Wisdom Revealed by the Spirit

6 We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature,(BU) but not the wisdom of this age(BV) or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing.(BW) 7 No, we declare God’s wisdom, a mystery(BX) that has been hidden(BY) and that God destined for our glory before time began. 8 None of the rulers of this age(BZ) understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.(CA) 9 However, as it is written:

“What no eye has seen,
    what no ear has heard,
and what no human mind has conceived”[f]—
    the things God has prepared for those who love him—(CB)

10 these are the things God has revealed(CC) to us by his Spirit.(CD)

The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. 11 For who knows a person’s thoughts(CE) except their own spirit(CF) within them? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 12 What we have received is not the spirit(CG) of the world,(CH) but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us. 13 This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom(CI) but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words.[g] 14 The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God(CJ) but considers them foolishness,(CK) and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit. 15 The person with the Spirit(CL) makes judgments about all things, but such a person is not subject to merely human judgments, 16 for,

“Who has known the mind of the Lord
    so as to instruct him?”[h](CM)

But we have the mind of Christ.(CN)

The Church and Its Leaders

3 Brothers and sisters, I could not address you as people who live by the Spirit(CO) but as people who are still worldly(CP)—mere infants(CQ) in Christ. 2 I gave you milk, not solid food,(CR) for you were not yet ready for it.(CS) Indeed, you are still not ready. 3 You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling(CT) among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere humans? 4 For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,”(CU) are you not mere human beings?

5 What, after all, is Apollos?(CV) And what is Paul? Only servants,(CW) through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task. 6 I planted the seed,(CX) Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. 7 So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. 8 The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor.(CY) 9 For we are co-workers in God’s service;(CZ) you are God’s field,(DA) God’s building.(DB)

10 By the grace God has given me,(DC) I laid a foundation(DD) as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care. 11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.(DE) 12 If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, 13 their work will be shown for what it is,(DF) because the Day(DG) will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work.(DH) 14 If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward.(DI) 15 If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames.(DJ)

16 Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple(DK) and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst?(DL) 17 If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person; for God’s temple is sacred, and you together are that temple.

18 Do not deceive yourselves. If any of you think you are wise(DM) by the standards of this age,(DN) you should become “fools” so that you may become wise. 19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness(DO) in God’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness”[i];(DP) 20 and again, “The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile.”[j](DQ) 21 So then, no more boasting about human leaders!(DR) All things are yours,(DS) 22 whether Paul or Apollos(DT) or Cephas[k](DU) or the world or life or death or the present or the future(DV)—all are yours, 23 and you are of Christ,(DW) and Christ is of God.

The Nature of True Apostleship

4 This, then, is how you ought to regard us: as servants(DX) of Christ and as those entrusted(DY) with the mysteries(DZ) God has revealed. 2 Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful. 3 I care very little if I am judged by you or by any human court; indeed, I do not even judge myself. 4 My conscience(EA) is clear, but that does not make me innocent.(EB) It is the Lord who judges me.(EC) 5 Therefore judge nothing(ED) before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes.(EE) He will bring to light(EF) what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of the heart. At that time each will receive their praise from God.(EG)

6 Now, brothers and sisters, I have applied these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, so that you may learn from us the meaning of the saying, “Do not go beyond what is written.”(EH) Then you will not be puffed up in being a follower of one of us over against the other.(EI) 7 For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive?(EJ) And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?

8 Already you have all you want! Already you have become rich!(EK) You have begun to reign—and that without us! How I wish that you really had begun to reign so that we also might reign with you! 9 For it seems to me that God has put us apostles on display at the end of the procession, like those condemned to die(EL) in the arena. We have been made a spectacle(EM) to the whole universe, to angels as well as to human beings. 10 We are fools for Christ,(EN) but you are so wise in Christ!(EO) We are weak, but you are strong!(EP) You are honored, we are dishonored! 11 To this very hour we go hungry and thirsty, we are in rags, we are brutally treated, we are homeless.(EQ) 12 We work hard with our own hands.(ER) When we are cursed, we bless;(ES) when we are persecuted,(ET) we endure it; 13 when we are slandered, we answer kindly. We have become the scum of the earth, the garbage(EU) of the world—right up to this moment.

Paul’s Appeal and Warning

14 I am writing this not to shame you(EV) but to warn you as my dear children.(EW) 15 Even if you had ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father(EX) through the gospel.(EY) 16 Therefore I urge you to imitate me.(EZ) 17 For this reason I have sent to you(FA) Timothy,(FB) my son(FC) whom I love, who is faithful in the Lord. He will remind you of my way of life in Christ Jesus, which agrees with what I teach everywhere in every church.(FD)

18 Some of you have become arrogant,(FE) as if I were not coming to you.(FF) 19 But I will come to you very soon,(FG) if the Lord is willing,(FH) and then I will find out not only how these arrogant people are talking, but what power they have. 20 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of(FI) talk but of power.(FJ) 21 What do you prefer? Shall I come to you with a rod of discipline,(FK) or shall I come in love and with a gentle spirit?

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
  5. 1 Corinthians 2:1 Some manuscripts proclaimed to you God’s mystery
  6. 1 Corinthians 2:9 Isaiah 64:4
  7. 1 Corinthians 2:13 Or Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual
  8. 1 Corinthians 2:16 Isaiah 40:13
  9. 1 Corinthians 3:19 Job 5:13
  10. 1 Corinthians 3:20 Psalm 94:11
  11. 1 Corinthians 3:22 That is, Peter
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