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

2 to the church of God which is at Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours:

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

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

5 that in every way you were enriched in him in all speech and all knowledge—

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

7 so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift, as you eagerly wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ;

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

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

10 I appeal to you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and in the same judgment.

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

12 What I mean is this, that each one of you says, »I am of Paul,« and »I of Apollos,« and »I of Cephas,« and »I of Christ.«

13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?

14 I am thankful that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius,

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

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

17 For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel—not with words of human wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.

18 For 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.

19 For it is written, »I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,and the cleverness of the clever I will frustrate.«

20 Where 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?

21 For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know God, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.

22 Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom,

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

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

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

26 For consider your call, brethren; not many of you were wise according to fleshly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth.

27 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong,

28 God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things, and the things that are not, to nullify the things that are,

29 so that no flesh may boast before God.

30 It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption,

31 therefore, as it is written, »Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord.«