v1
Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother,
v2
to the church of God sanctified in Christ Jesus that is in Corinth, ^[Some manuscripts have “to the church of God that is in Corinth, sanctified in Christ Jesus”] called to be saints, together with all those who call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ in every place, their Lord ^[Here “Lord” must be supplied to indicate the referent; otherwise this could be understood as “their place and ours”] and ours.
v3
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
v4
I give thanks to my God always concerning you, because of the grace of God which was given to you in Christ Jesus,
v5
that ^[Or “because”; the conjunction either (1) introduces a content clause (“that”) giving the content of Paul’s thanks, or (2) introduces a causal clause (“because”) giving the reason for Paul’s thanks] in everything you were made rich in him, in all speech and all knowledge,
v6
just as the testimony about Christ has been confirmed in you,
v7
so that you do not lack in any spiritual gift as you ^[Here “as” is supplied as a component of the participle (“eagerly await”) which is understood as temporal] eagerly await the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ,
v8
who will also confirm you until the end, blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
v9
God is faithful, by whom you were called to fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.
v10
Now I exhort you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all say the same thing and there not be divisions among you, and that you be made complete in the same mind and with the same purpose.
v11
For it has been made clear to me concerning you, my brothers, by Chloe’s people ^[Literally “those of Chloe”], that there are quarrels among you.
v12
But I say this, that each of you is saying, “I am with Paul,” and “I am with Apollos,” and “I am with Cephas,” and “I am with Christ.”
v13
Has Christ been divided? Paul was not crucified for you, was he? ^[*The negative construction in Greek anticipates a negative answer here] Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?
v14
I give thanks ^[Some manuscripts have “I give thanks to God”] that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius,
v15
lest anyone should say that you were baptized in my name.
v16
(Now I also baptized the household of Stephanas. Beyond that I do not know if I baptized anyone else.)
v17
For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to proclaim the gospel, not with clever speech ^[Literally “wisdom of word”], lest the cross of Christ be emptied.
v18
For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
v19
For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the intelligence of the intelligent I will confound.” ^[A quotation from Isa 29:14]
v20
Where is the wise person? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?
v21
For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through its wisdom did not know God, God was pleased through the foolishness of preaching to save those who believe.
v22
For indeed, Jews ask for sign miracles and Greeks seek wisdom,
v23
but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a cause for stumbling, but to the Gentiles foolishness,
v24
but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God.
v25
For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, ^[Literally “man”] and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength. ^[Literally “man”]
v26
For consider your calling, brothers, that not many were wise according to human standards, ^[Literally “according to flesh”] not many were powerful, not many were well born.
v27
But the foolish things of the world God chose in order that he might put to shame the wise, and the weak things of the world God chose in order that he might put to shame the strong,
v28
and the insignificant of the world, and the despised, God chose, the things that are not, in order that he might abolish the things that are,
v29
so that all flesh may not boast before God.
v30
But from him you are in Christ Jesus, who became wisdom to us from God, and righteousness and sanctification and redemption,
v31
so that, just as it is written, “The one who boasts, let him boast in the Lord.” ^[A quotation from Jer 9:24]