Christ Is Undivided

1Paul, called as an apostle of Jesus Christ [†]by the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother,

2To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, called as [†]saints, with all who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours:

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

4I thank [†]my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given you in Christ Jesus, 5that in everything you were enriched in Him, in all word and all knowledge, 6even as the witness about Christ was confirmed [†]in you, 7so that you are not lacking in any gift, eagerly awaiting the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, 8who will also confirm you to the end, beyond reproach in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9God is faithful, through whom you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

10Now I exhort you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all [†]agree and that there be no [†]divisions among you, but that you be [†]made complete in the same mind and in the same judgment. 11For I have been informed concerning you, my brothers, by Chloe’s people, that there are quarrels among you. 12Now I mean this, that each one of you is saying, “I am of Paul,” and “I of Apollos,” and “I of Cephas,” and “I of Christ.” 13[†]Has Christ been divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized [†]in the name of Paul? 14[†]I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15so that no one would say you were baptized [†]in my name. 16Now I did baptize also the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized any other. 17For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to proclaim the gospel, not in wisdom of word, so that the cross of Christ will not be made empty.

Christ the Power and Wisdom of God

18For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who [†]are perishing, but to us who [†]are being saved, it is the power of God. 19For it is written,

“I WILL DESTROY THE WISDOM OF THE WISE,

AND THE CLEVERNESS OF THE CLEVER I WILL SET ASIDE.”

20Where 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? 21For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was well-pleased, through the foolishness of the [†]message preached, to save those who believe. 22For indeed Jews ask for [†]signs and Greeks search for wisdom, 23but we preach [†]Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness, 24but to those who are the 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.

26For [†]consider your calling, brothers, that there were not many wise according to [†]the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble. 27But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, 28and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may abolish the things that are, 29so that no flesh may boast before God. 30But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, [†]and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, 31so that, just as it is written, “LET HIM WHO BOASTS, BOAST IN THE [†]LORD.”