1Paul, called by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and our brother Sosthenes, (Ro 1:1; 2Co 1:1; Eph 1:1; Col 1:1; 2Ti 1:1)2To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours: (Joh 17:19; Ac 9:14; Ro 1:7; 1Co 1:30; 1Co 6:11)3Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. (1Co 1:2)
10I appeal to you, brothers,[1] by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment. (1Co 11:18; Php 1:27)11For it has been reported to me by Chloe’s people that there is quarreling among you, my brothers. (1Co 3:3)12What I mean is that each one of you says, “I follow Paul,” or “I follow Apollos,” or “I follow Cephas,” or “I follow Christ.” (Mt 23:9; Joh 1:42; Ac 18:24; 1Co 3:4)13Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? (Ac 8:16; 1Co 12:5; 2Co 11:4; Eph 4:5)14I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, (Ac 18:8; Ro 16:23)15so that no one may say that you were baptized in my name.16(I did baptize also the household of Stephanas. Beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized anyone else.) (1Co 16:15; 1Co 16:17)17For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power. (1Co 2:1; 1Co 2:4; 1Co 2:13; 2Co 10:10; 2Co 11:6; 2Pe 1:16)
Christ the Wisdom and Power of God
18For 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. (Ac 2:47; Ro 1:16; 1Co 1:21; 1Co 1:23; 1Co 1:24; 1Co 1:25; 1Co 2:14; 1Co 15:2; 2Co 2:15; 2Co 4:3; 2Th 2:10)19For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.” (Job 5:12; Isa 29:14; Jer 8:9; Mt 11:25)20Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? (Isa 19:12; Isa 44:25; Ro 1:22; 1Co 1:26; 1Co 2:6; 1Co 3:19)21For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach[2] to save those who believe.22For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, (Mt 12:38)23but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, (Ga 5:11; 1Pe 2:8)24but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. (Lu 11:49; 1Co 1:18; 1Co 1:30; Col 2:3)25For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.26For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards,[3] not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. (Mt 11:25; Joh 7:48; 1Co 1:20; 1Co 2:8)27But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; (Ps 8:2; Jas 2:5)28God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, (Job 34:19; Job 34:24; Ro 4:17; 1Co 2:6)29so that no human being[4] might boast in the presence of God. (Jud 7:2; Eph 2:9)30And because of him[5] you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, (Jer 23:5; Jer 33:16; Ro 3:24; 1Co 1:2; 1Co 1:24; 2Co 5:21; Eph 1:7; Php 3:9; Col 1:14)31so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” (Jer 9:23; 2Co 10:17)