Add parallel Print Page Options

Problems in the Church

10 I beg you, brothers and sisters, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ that all of you agree with each other and not be split into groups. I beg that you be completely joined together by having the same kind of thinking and the same purpose. 11 My brothers and sisters, some people from Chloe’s family have told me quite plainly that there are quarrels among you. 12 This is what I mean: One of you says, “I follow Paul”; another says, “I follow Apollos”; another says, “I follow Peter”; and another says, “I follow Christ.” 13 Christ has been divided up into different groups! Did Paul die on the cross for you? No! Were you baptized in the name of Paul? No! 14 I thank God I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius 15 so that now no one can say you were baptized in my name. 16 (I also baptized the family of Stephanas, but I do not remember that I baptized anyone else.) 17 Christ did not send me to baptize people but to preach the Good News. And he sent me to preach the Good News without using words of human wisdom so that the cross[a] of Christ would not lose its power.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 1:17 cross Paul uses the cross as a picture of the Good News, the story of Christ’s death and rising from the dead for people’s sins. The cross, or Christ’s death, was God’s way to save people.

A Church Divided Over Leaders

10 I appeal to you, brothers and sisters,[a](A) 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,(B) but that you be perfectly united(C) in mind and thought. 11 My brothers and sisters, some from Chloe’s household(D) have informed me that there are quarrels among you. 12 What I mean is this: One of you says, “I follow Paul”;(E) another, “I follow Apollos”;(F) another, “I follow Cephas[b]”;(G) still another, “I follow Christ.”

13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized in the name of Paul?(H) 14 I thank God that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus(I) and Gaius,(J) 15 so no one can say that you were baptized in my name. 16 (Yes, I also baptized the household(K) of Stephanas;(L) beyond that, I don’t remember if I baptized anyone else.) 17 For Christ did not send me to baptize,(M) but to preach the gospel—not with wisdom(N) and eloquence, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.

Read full chapter

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