Greetings from Paul and Sosthenes
(Acts 18:1–11; 2 Corinthians 1:1–2)

1Paul, called an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and brother Sosthenes,

2to the church of God being in Corinth, to the sanctified in Christ Jesus, to the called saints, along with all who call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ in every place, theirs and ours:

3Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Thanksgiving
(Philippians 1:3–11; Colossians 1:3–14)

4I give thanks to my God always in your behalf, for the grace of God given unto you in Christ Jesus; 5because in everything you are enriched in him, in all speech and in all knowledge; 6as the testimony of Christ is confirmed in you; 7so that you are deficient in no spiritual gift; awaiting the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ; 8who will also establish you unblamable unto the end in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9God is faithful, through whom you have been called unto the fellowship of His Son our Lord Jesus Christ.

Unity in the Church
(Ephesians 4:1–16)

10But I exhort you, brethren, through the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you may all speak the same things, and that there may be no schisms among you; but you may be perfected in the same mind and in the same disposition. 11For it has been revealed to me concerning you, my brethren, by those who are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you. 12And I say this, that each one says, I indeed am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. 13Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were you baptized in the name of Paul? 14I thank God that I baptized none of you, except Crispus and Gaius; 15in order that no one may say that you are baptized in my name. 16But I baptized also the family of Stephanas: besides, I know not if I baptized any other. 17For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with the wisdom of speech, in order that the cross of Christ may not be made of none effect.

The Message of the Cross

18For the word of the cross is foolishness indeed to those who are lost; but to those who are saved it is the power of God.

19For it has been written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and bring to nought the understanding of the intelligent.

20Where is the wise man? where is the scribe? where is the investigator of this age? has not God rendered the wisdom of the world foolishness? 21For since in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, God was pleased through the foolishness of preaching to save those who believe. 22Since indeed the Jews ask for miracles, and the Greeks seek after wisdom; 23but we preach Christ having been crucified, to the Jews indeed a stumbling block, and to the Gentiles foolishness; 24but to you who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.

25Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

Wisdom from God

26For you see your calling, brethren, that there are not many wise according to the flesh, not many influential, not many high-born: 27but God has chosen the foolish things of the world, that he may confound the wise; and God has chosen the weak things of the world, that he may confound the strong; 28and God has chosen the base-born of the world, and those of no reputation, the things which are not, that He may set at nought the things which are, 29in order that no flesh can boast in the sight of God. 30But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God was made unto us wisdom, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption: 31in order that, as it has been written, Let him that glorieth glory in the Lord.