1 Corinthians 1
Revised Standard Version
Salutation
1 Paul, called by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and our brother Sos′thenes,
2 To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours:
3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
4 I give thanks to God[a] always for you because of the grace of God which was given you in Christ Jesus, 5 that in every way you were enriched in him with all speech and all knowledge— 6 even as the testimony to Christ was confirmed among you— 7 so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ; 8 who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Divisions in the Church
10 I appeal to you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree and that there be no dissensions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment. 11 For it has been reported to me by Chlo′e’s people that there is quarreling among you, my brethren. 12 What I mean is that each one of you says, “I belong to Paul,” or “I belong to Apol′los,” or “I belong to Cephas,” or “I belong to Christ.” 13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? 14 I am thankful[b] that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Ga′ius; 15 lest any one should say that you were baptized in my name. 16 (I did baptize also the household of Steph′anas. Beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized any one else.) 17 For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.
Christ the Power and Wisdom of God
18 For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written,
“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,
and the cleverness of the clever I will thwart.”
20 Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? 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 to save those who believe. 22 For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, 24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and 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 call, brethren; not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth; 27 but God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise, God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong, 28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, 29 so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. 30 He is the source of your life in Christ Jesus, whom God made our wisdom, our righteousness and sanctification and redemption; 31 therefore, as it is written, “Let him who boasts, boast of the Lord.”
Footnotes
- 1 Corinthians 1:4 Other ancient authorities read my God
- 1 Corinthians 1:14 Other ancient authorities read I thank God
1 Corinthians 1
American Standard Version
1 Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes [a]our brother, 2 unto the church of God which is at Corinth, even them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ in every place, their Lord and ours: 3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
4 I thank [b]my God always concerning you, for the grace of God which was given you in Christ Jesus; 5 that in everything ye were enriched in him, in all [c]utterance and all knowledge; 6 even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you: 7 so that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ; 8 who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye be unreproveable in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God is faithful, through whom ye were called into the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.
10 Now I beseech you, brethren, through the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no [d]divisions among you; but that ye be perfected together in the same mind and in the same judgment. 11 For it hath been signified unto me concerning you, my brethren, by them that are of the household of Chloe, that there are contentions among you. 12 Now this I mean, that each one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. 13 [e]Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized into the name of Paul? 14 [f]I thank God that I baptized none of you, save Crispus and Gaius; 15 lest any man should say that ye were baptized into my 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 [g]preach the gospel: not in wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made void.
18 For the word of the cross is to them that [h]perish foolishness; but unto us who [i]are saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written,
[j]I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,
And the discernment of the discerning will I bring to nought.
20 Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this [k]world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For seeing that in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom knew not God, it was God’s good pleasure through the foolishness of the [l]preaching to save them that believe. 22 Seeing that Jews ask for signs, and Greeks seek after wisdom: 23 but we preach [m]Christ crucified, unto Jews a stumblingblock, and unto Gentiles foolishness; 24 but unto [n]them that 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 [o]behold your calling, brethren, that not many wise after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: 27 but God chose the foolish things of the world, that he might put to shame them that are wise; and God chose the weak things of the world, that he might put to shame the things that are strong; 28 and the base things of the world, and the things that are despised, did God choose, yea [p]and the things that are not, that he might bring to nought the things that are: 29 that no flesh should glory before God. 30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who was made unto us wisdom from God, [q]and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption: 31 that, according as it is written, [r]He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.
Footnotes
- 1 Corinthians 1:1 Greek the brother.
- 1 Corinthians 1:4 Some ancient authorities omit my.
- 1 Corinthians 1:5 Greek word.
- 1 Corinthians 1:10 Greek schisms.
- 1 Corinthians 1:13 Or, Christ is divided! Was Paul crucified for you?
- 1 Corinthians 1:14 Some ancient authorities read I give thanks that.
- 1 Corinthians 1:17 Greek bring good tidings. Compare Mt. 11:5.
- 1 Corinthians 1:18 Or, are perishing
- 1 Corinthians 1:18 Or, are being saved
- 1 Corinthians 1:19 Isa. 29:14.
- 1 Corinthians 1:20 Or, age
- 1 Corinthians 1:21 Greek thing preached.
- 1 Corinthians 1:23 Or, a Messiah
- 1 Corinthians 1:24 Greek the called themselves.
- 1 Corinthians 1:26 Or, ye behold
- 1 Corinthians 1:28 Many ancient authorities omit and.
- 1 Corinthians 1:30 Or, both righteousness and sanctification and redemption
- 1 Corinthians 1:31 Jer. 9:23f.
Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright © 1946, 1952, and 1971 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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