International Standard Version

New American Standard Bible 1995

1From: Paul, called to be an apostle of the Messiah Jesus by the will of God, and from our brother Sosthenes.

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

2To: God's church in Corinth, to those who have been sanctified by the Messiah Jesus and called to be holy, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus, the Messiah —their Lord and ours.

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

3May grace and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus, the Messiah, be yours!

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

4I always thank my God for you because of the grace of God given you by the Messiah Jesus.

4I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given you in Christ Jesus,

5For by him you have become rich in every way—in speech and knowledge of every kind—

5that in everything you were enriched in Him, in all speech and all knowledge,

6while our testimony about the Messiah has been confirmed among you.

6even as the testimony concerning Christ was confirmed in you,

7Therefore, you don't lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus the Messiah to be revealed.

7so that you are not lacking in any gift, awaiting eagerly the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ,

8He will keep you strong until the end, so that you will be blameless on the Day of our Lord Jesus the Messiah.

8who will also confirm you to the end, blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

9Faithful is the God by whom you were called into fellowship with his Son Jesus the Messiah, our Lord.

9God is faithful, through whom you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

10Brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus the Messiah, I urge all of you to be in agreement and not to have divisions among you, so that you may be perfectly united in your understanding and opinions.

10Now I exhort you, brethren, 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.

11My brothers, some members of Chloe's family have made it clear to me that there are quarrels among you.

11For I have been informed concerning you, my brethren, by Chloe's people, that there are quarrels among you.

12This is what I mean: Each of you is saying, "I belong to Paul," or "I belong to Apollos," or "I belong to Cephas," or "I belong to the Messiah."

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."

13Is the Messiah divided? Paul wasn't crucified for you, was he? You weren't baptized in Paul's name, were you?

13Has Christ been divided? Paul was not crucified for you, was he? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?

14I thank God that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius,

14I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius,

15so that no one can say that you were baptized in my name.

15so that no one would say you were baptized in my name.

16(Oh yes, I also baptized the family of Stephanas. Beyond that, I'm not sure whether I baptized anyone else.)

16Now I did baptize also the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized any other.

17For the Messiah did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, not with eloquent wisdom, so the cross of the Messiah won't be emptied of its power.

17For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not in cleverness of speech, so that the cross of Christ would not be made void.

18For the message about the cross is nonsense to those who are being destroyed, but it is God's power to us who are being saved.

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 intelligence of the intelligent I will reject."

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 person? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? God has turned the wisdom of the world into nonsense, hasn't he?

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 know God, God was pleased to save those who believe through the nonsense of our preaching.

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.

22Jews ask for signs, and Greeks look for wisdom,

22For indeed Jews ask for signs and Greeks search for wisdom;

23but we preach the Messiah crucified. He is a stumbling block to Jews and nonsense to gentiles,

23but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness,

24but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, the Messiah is God's power and God's wisdom.

24but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.

25For God's nonsense is wiser than human wisdom, and God's weakness is stronger than human strength.

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

26Brothers, think about your own calling. Not many of you were wise by human standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth.

26For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble;

27But God chose what is nonsense in the world to make the wise feel ashamed. God chose what is weak in the world to make the strong feel ashamed.

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 God chose what is insignificant in the world, what is despised, what is nothing, in order to destroy what is something,

28and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are,

29so that no one may boast in God's presence.

29so that no man may boast before God.

30It is because of God that you are in union with the Messiah Jesus, who for us has become wisdom from God, as well as our righteousness, sanctification, and redemption.

30But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption,

31Therefore, as it is written, "The person who boasts must boast in the Lord."

31so that, just as it is written, "LET HIM WHO BOASTS, BOAST IN THE LORD."

The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY.

New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit //www.lockman.org