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^(A) among you. ¹² What I am saying is this: One of you says, “I belong to Paul,” or “I belong to Apollos,”^(B) or “I belong to Cephas,”^(C) or “I belong to Christ.”^{(D) 13} Is Christ divided?^(E) 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^(F) and Gaius,^{(G) 15} so that no one can say you were baptized in my name. ¹⁶ I did, in fact, baptize the household^(H) of Stephanas;^(I) 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^(J) 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.^{(K) 19} For it is written,

²⁰ Where is the one who is wise? Where is the teacher of the law?^[d] Where is the debater of this age?^(M) 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^(N) and the Greeks seek wisdom, ²³ but we preach Christ crucified,^(O) a stumbling block to the Jews and foolishness to the Gentiles.^{[e] 24} Yet to those who are called,^(P) 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,^(Q) not many of noble birth. ²⁷ Instead, God has chosen^(R) 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^(S)—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.^{(T) 30} It is from him that you are in Christ Jesus, who became wisdom from God for us—our righteousness,^(U) sanctification,^(V) and redemption^(W)— ³¹ in order that, as it is written:^(X) Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.^[h](Y)

Unity and Diversity in the Body of Christ

4 Therefore I, the prisoner in the Lord,^(A) urge you to walk worthy of the calling you have received, ² with all humility^(B) and gentleness, with patience,^(C) bearing^(D) with one another in love,^{(E) 3} making every effort to keep the unity^(F) of the Spirit^(G) through the bond of peace. ⁴ There is one body and one Spirit^(H)—just as you were called to one hope^[a](I) at your calling— ⁵ one Lord,^(J) one faith,^(K) one baptism, ⁶ one God^(L) and Father^(M) of all, who is above all and through all and in all.^(N)

⁷ Now grace was given to each one of us^(O) according to the measure of Christ’s gift. ⁸ For it says:

⁹ But what does “he ascended” mean except that he^[c] also descended to the lower parts of the earth?^{[d](R) 10} The one who descended is also the one who ascended far above all the heavens,^(S) to fill all things.^{(T) 11} And he himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, ¹² to equip the saints for the work of ministry, to build up the body of Christ,^{(U) 13} until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of God’s Son,^(V) growing into maturity with a stature^(W) measured by Christ’s fullness. ¹⁴ Then we will no longer be little children, tossed by the waves and blown around by every wind of teaching,^(X) by human cunning with cleverness in the techniques of deceit. ¹⁵ But speaking the truth in love, let us grow in every way into him who is the head^(Y)—Christ. ¹⁶ From him the whole body, fitted and knit together^(Z) by every supporting ligament, promotes the growth^(AA) of the body for building itself up in love by the proper working of each individual part.