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

1Paul, called, sent of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Sosthenes the brother,

2To the church of God being in Corinth, to the consecrated in Christ Jesus, to the Called holy ones, with all calling upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ in every place, both 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 return thanks to my God always for you, for the grace of God given you in Christ Jesus; 5That in every thing we were enriched in him, in all the word, and all knowledge; 6As the testimony of Jesus Christ was made firm in you: 7So that ye are not wanting in any grace; awaiting the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ. 8Who also shall make you firm even to the end, blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9God faithful, by whom we were called to the communion of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.

Unity in the Church
(Psalm 133:1–3; Ephesians 4:1–16)

10And I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same, and there be no divisions in you; and ye be set in order in the same mind and in the same knowledge. 11For it was manifested to me concerning you, my brethren, by them of Chloe, that there are contentions with you. 12And this I say, that each of you says, I truly am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. 13Has Christ been divided? Paul was not crucified for you? or in Paul's name were ye immersed. 14I thank God that I immersed none of you, but Crispus and Gaius; 15Lest any should say that in my name I have immersed. 16And I immersed also the house of Stephanas: besides, I know not if I immersed any other. 17For Christ sent me not to immerse, but to announce good news: not in wisdom of word, lest the cross of Christ be made void.

The Message of the Cross

18For truly the word of the cross to them perishing is foolishness; but to us saved it is the power of God.

19For it has been written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and put away the understanding of the intelligent.

20Where the wise? where the scribe? where the seekers together of this life has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? 21For since in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, God was contented by the foolishness of proclaiming to save them believing. 22And since the Jews ask a sign, and the Greeks seek wisdom: 23And we proclaim Christ crucified, to the Jews truly a stumbling-block, and to the Greeks foolishness; 24And to these the called, to both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and wisdom of God.

25For the foolish thing of God is wiser than men; and the weak thing of God is stronger than men.

Wisdom from God

26For ye see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many powerful, not, many well born: 27But the foolish things of the world, has God chosen that he might shame the wise; and the weak things of the world has God chosen that he might shame things strong; 28And the ignoble things of the world, and the despised things, has God chosen, and things not being, that the things being he might leave unemployed: 29That no flesh might boast before him. 30And ye are of him in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and also justice, and consecration, and holiness: 31That, as it has been written, Let him boasting, boast in the Lord.