1 Corinthians 1:10-21

English Standard Version

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 ^(A)divisions among you, but that you be united ^(B)in the same mind and the same judgment. ¹¹ For it has been reported to me by Chloe's people that there is ^(C)quarreling among you, my brothers. ¹² What I mean is that ^(D)each one of you says, “I follow Paul,” or “I follow ^(E)Apollos,” or “I follow ^(F)Cephas,” or “I follow Christ.” ^13 (G)Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you ^(H)baptized in the name of Paul? ¹⁴ I thank God that I baptized none of you except ^(I)Crispus and ^(J)Gaius, ¹⁵ so that no one may say that you were baptized in my name. ¹⁶ (I did baptize also ^(K)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 ^(L)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 ^(M)folly to ^(N)those who are perishing, but to us ^(O)who are being saved it is ^(P)the power of God. ¹⁹ For it is written,

^20 (R)Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? ^(S)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.