1Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, with Sosthenes, our brother, 2To the church of God at Corinth, to those that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints (His holy people), together with all those everywhere who call upon the name of Jesus Christ, both our Lord, and their Lord: 3Grace and peace to you, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

4I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given to you by Jesus Christ, 5That in every way you are enriched by Him - in all words and knowledge, 6As our testimony about Christ was confirmed as true among you; 7So that you lack no spiritual gift; as you eagerly await the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, 8Who shall also sustain and hold you firm to the end, so that you will be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9God, Who has called you into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful.

10I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all live in harmony, proclaiming the same thing, so that there are no divisions among you; but that you are perfectly united in mind, thought, and purpose. 11For it has been reported to me by those of the house of Chloe, brothers and sisters, that there are contentions among you. 12What I mean by this is - that some of you say, “I am of Paul”; while others say, “I am of Apollos”; or “I am of Cephas”; and still others, “I am of Christ.” 13Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? 14I thank God that I did not baptize any of you, except Crispus and Gaius, 15So none of you can say that you were baptized in my name. 16And yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I do not remember whether I baptized any others.

17For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel; not with wisdom or eloquence of words, lest anything should detract from the importance of the cross of Christ. 18For the message of the cross is foolishness to those that are perishing; but to us, who are saved, it is the power of God. 19For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will frustrate the discernment of the intelligent.” (Isa.29:14). 20So where does this leave the wise, the philosophers, the scholars, and the brilliant debaters? God has made the wisdom of this world look foolish. 21For since, in the wisdom of God, the world, by its wisdom, did not acknowledge God, it pleased God to use what the wise regarded as foolish preaching to save those who believe. 22The Jews demand signs, and the Greeks seek human wisdom; 23But we preach Christ crucified - a stumbling block to the Jews, and foolishness to the Greeks; 24But to those who are called, whether Jews or Greeks, Christ is the power and the wisdom of God. 25Because the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom; and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.

26Brothers and sisters, consider what you were when you were called: that not many of you were wise by human standards, not many influential, not many noble; 27But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and He has chosen the weak things of the world to frustrate the mighty. 28God has chosen the lowly – the things that the world despises - yes, those things considered nothing - to bring to nothing things that the world esteems, 29So that no flesh should boast in God’s presence. 30But it is because of Him that you are in Christ Jesus, Who has become our wisdom from God - our righteousness, sanctification, and redemption; 31So that, as it is written, “Let him that boasts, boast in the Lord.” (Jer.9:24)