1 Corinthians — Chapter 1
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1Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and our brother Sosthenes,
2To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be holy, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours:
3Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
4I always thank my God for you because of the grace He has given you in Christ Jesus.
5For in Him you have been enriched in every way, in all speech and all knowledge,
6because our testimony about Christ was confirmed in you.
7Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly await the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ.
8He will sustain you to the end, so that you will be blameless on 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, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree together, so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be united in mind and conviction.
11My brothers, some from Chloe’s household have informed me that there are quarrels among you.
12What I mean is this: Individuals among you are saying, “I follow Paul,” “I follow Apollos,” “I follow Cephas,” or “I follow Christ.”
13Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized into the name of Paul?
14I thank God that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius,
15so no one can say that you were baptized into my name.
16Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas; beyond that I do not remember if I baptized anyone else.
17For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with words of wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.
18For the message 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; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”
20Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the philosopher 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 Him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.
22Jews demand signs and Greeks search for wisdom,
23but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles,
24but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.
25For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength.
26Brothers, consider the time of your calling: Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were powerful; not many were of noble birth.
27But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.
28He chose the lowly and despised things of the world, and the things that are not, to nullify the things that are,
29so that no one may boast in His presence.
30It is because of Him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God: our righteousness, holiness, and redemption.
31Therefore, as it is written: “Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.”
1Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother,
2Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:
3Grace be unto you, and peace, 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 you by Jesus Christ;
5That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge;
6Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you:
7So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ:
8Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
9God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.
10Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.
11For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you.
12Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ.
13Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?
14I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius;
15Lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name.
16And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any other.
17For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.
18For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
19For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.
20Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?
21For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.
22For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:
23But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;
24But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.
25Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
26For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:
27But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;
28And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:
29That no flesh should glory in his presence.
30But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:
31That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.
1Paul, called [to be] an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother,
2unto the church of God which is at Corinth, [even] them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called [to be] saints, with all that call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ in every place, their [Lord] and ours:
3Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
4I thank my God always concerning you, for the grace of God which was given you in Christ Jesus;
5that in everything ye were enriched in him, in all utterance and all knowledge;
6even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you:
7so that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ;
8who shall also confirm you unto the end, [that ye be] unreproveable in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
9God is faithful, through whom ye were called into the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.
10Now I beseech you, brethren, through the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing and [that] there be no divisions among you; but [that] ye be perfected together in the same mind and in the same judgment.
11For it hath been signified unto me concerning you, my brethren, by them [that are of the household] of Chloe, that there are contentions among you.
12Now this I mean, that each one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos: and I of Cephas; and I of Christ.
13Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized into the name of Paul?
14I thank God that I baptized none of you, save Crispus and Gaius;
15lest any man should say that ye were baptized into my name.
16And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any other.
17For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not in wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made void.
18For the word of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us who are saved it is the power of God.
19For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, And the discernment of the discerning will I bring to nought.
20Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?
21For seeing that in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom knew not God, it was God`s good pleasure through the foolishness of the preaching to save them that believe.
22Seeing that Jews ask for signs, and Greeks seek after wisdom:
23but we preach Christ crucified, unto Jews a stumblingblock, and unto Gentiles foolishness;
24but unto them that are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.
25Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
26For behold your calling, brethren, that not many wise after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, [are called]:
27but God chose the foolish things of the world, that he might put to shame them that are wise; and God chose the weak things of the world, that he might put to shame the things that are strong;
28and the base things of the world, and the things that are despised, did God choose, [yea] and the things that are not, that he might bring to nought the things that are:
29that no flesh should glory before God.
30But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who was made unto us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption:
31that, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.
1From Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Sosthenes, our brother,
2to the church of God that is in Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, and called to be saints, with all those in every place who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours.
3Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ!
4I always thank my God for you because of the grace of God that was given to you in Christ Jesus.
5For you were made rich in every way in him, in all your speech and in every kind of knowledge—
6just as the testimony about Christ has been confirmed among you—
7so that you do not lack any spiritual gift as you wait for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ.
8He will also strengthen you to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
9God is faithful, by whom you were called into fellowship with his son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
10I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to agree together, to end your divisions, and to be united by the same mind and purpose.
11For members of Chloe’s household have made it clear to me, my brothers and sisters, that there are quarrels among you.
12Now I mean this, that each of you is saying, “I am with Paul,” or “I am with Apollos,” or “I am with Cephas,” or “I am with Christ.”
13Is Christ divided? Paul wasn’t crucified for you, was he? Or were you in fact baptized in the name of Paul?
14I thank God that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius,
15so that no one can say that you were baptized in my name!
16(I also baptized the household of Stephanus. Otherwise, I do not remember whether I baptized anyone else.)
17For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel—and not with clever speech, so that the cross of Christ would not become useless.
18For 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.
19For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and I will thwart the cleverness of the intelligent.”
20Where is the wise man? Where is the expert in the Mosaic law? Where is the debater of this age? Has God not made the wisdom of the world foolish?
21For since in the wisdom of God the world by its wisdom did not know God, God was pleased to save those who believe by the foolishness of preaching.
22For Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks ask for wisdom,
23but we preach about a crucified Christ, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles.
24But to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God.
25For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.
26Think about the circumstances of your call, brothers and sisters. Not many were wise by human standards, not many were powerful, not many were born to a privileged position.
27But God chose what the world thinks foolish to shame the wise, and God chose what the world thinks weak to shame the strong.
28God chose what is low and despised in the world, what is regarded as nothing, to set aside what is regarded as something,
29so that no one can boast in his presence.
30He is the reason you have a relationship with Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification and redemption,
31so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”
1Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and our brother Sosthenes,
2to the assembly of God which is at Corinth; those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all who call on 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.
4I always thank my God concerning you, for the grace of God which was given you in Christ Jesus;
5that in everything you were enriched in him, in all speech and all knowledge;
6even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you:
7so that you come behind in no gift; waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ;
8who will also confirm you until the end, blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
9God is faithful, through whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord.
10Now I beg you, brothers, through the name of our Lord, Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfected together in the same mind and in the same judgment.
11For it has been reported to me concerning you, my brothers, by those who are from Chloe’s household, that there are contentions among you.
12Now I mean this, that each one of you says, “I follow Paul,” “I follow Apollos,” “I follow Cephas,” and, “I follow Christ.”
13Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized into the name of Paul?
14I thank God that I baptized none of you, except Crispus and Gaius,
15so that no one should say that I had baptized you into my own name.
16(I also baptized the household of Stephanas; besides them, I don’t know whether I baptized any other.)
17For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the Good News—not in wisdom of words, so that the cross of Christ wouldn’t be made void.
18For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are dying, but to us who are saved it is the power of God.
19For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, I will bring the discernment of the discerning to nothing.”
20Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the lawyer of this world? Hasn’t God made foolish the wisdom of this world?
21For seeing that in the wisdom of God, the world through its wisdom didn’t know God, it was God’s good pleasure through the foolishness of the preaching to save those who believe.
22For Jews ask for signs, Greeks seek after wisdom,
23but we preach Christ crucified; a stumbling block to Jews, and foolishness to Greeks,
24but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God.
25Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
26For you see your calling, brothers, that not many are wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, and not many noble;
27but God chose the foolish things of the world that he might put to shame those who are wise. God chose the weak things of the world, that he might put to shame the things that are strong;
28and God chose the lowly things of the world, and the things that are despised, and the things that are not, that he might bring to nothing the things that are:
29that no flesh should boast before God.
30Because of him, you are in Christ Jesus, who was made to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption:
31that, according as it is written, “He who boasts, let him boast in the Lord.”
Summary
Paul greets the church at Corinth as those sanctified and called to be saints, thanking God for the grace and spiritual gifts they have received in Christ (vv. 1-9). He then appeals for unity, having heard of quarrels forming around Paul, Apollos, Cephas, and Christ himself (vv. 10-13). He recalls that his calling was to preach the gospel, not to impress with eloquent wisdom, since the message of the cross seems foolish to those who are perishing but is God's power to those being saved (vv. 14-18). God has overturned worldly wisdom, choosing what is foolish, weak, and lowly in the world's eyes to shame the wise and strong (vv. 19-29). Believers' standing comes from God alone, who made Christ their wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption, so that anyone who boasts should boast only in the Lord (vv. 30-31).
Authorship & Background
Map & Geography
- Corinth (v.2): Greek port city known for commerce and immorality; Paul planted a church there.
Places on this map
- CorinthAncient Corinth, GreeceOn the four-mile isthmus joining the Peloponnese to mainland Greece, with a harbour on each side. Cargo was hauled overland between them to avoid the dangerous voyage round the cape, so the city was rich, transient and famously loose. Wikipedia
Towns sit on their excavated or traditional site. Regions, rivers and seas are ringed rather than dotted, because for those a single point is only an anchor. Coastlines from Natural Earth.
Commentary
- Enduring Word (David Guzik): enduringword.com Guzik examines the divisions, the foolishness of the cross, God's upside-down wisdom, and Christ as our everything.
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown (1871): blueletterbible.org A critical and explanatory commentary on the whole Bible, more concise than Matthew Henry and closer to the Hebrew and Greek, with attention to historical and geographical detail. Public domain.
- Matthew Henry's Exposition (1710): blueletterbible.org A devotional verse-by-verse commentary in the Puritan tradition, still among the most widely read three centuries on. Public domain.
Videos
Articles
- GotQuestions.org: gotquestions.org On the whole book: an overview of the book of 1 Corinthians -- who wrote it, when, why, and how it fits the rest of Scripture.
Links open on the publisher's own site. Nothing here is reproduced on this page.
Reflection
- Unity Over Human Loyalty (vv.10-13) — The Corinthians were splitting into camps around Paul, Apollos, and Cephas instead of standing united in Christ. Do you find your identity more in a leader, group, or label than in Christ Himself?
- The Cross as Power, Not Just Doctrine (v.18) — Paul says the message of the cross looks foolish to those perishing but is the power of God to those being saved. Is the cross something you merely believe, or something you experience as power in your daily life?
- God's Wisdom Confounds the World's (vv.20-21) — God chose to save people through preaching the world calls foolish rather than through impressive human wisdom. Are you ever tempted to soften or dress up the gospel to make it seem more respectable?
- God's Preference for the Overlooked (vv.26-29) — Paul reminds the Corinthians that not many of them were wise, powerful, or well-born by the world's standards, yet God chose them so no one could boast before Him. Does it encourage or challenge you that God delights in using ordinary, unimpressive people?
- Christ Is Everything We Need (vv.30-31) — Paul says Christ has become our wisdom, righteousness, holiness, and redemption, so the only rightful boast is in the Lord. What are you tempted to boast in besides Christ — your achievements, knowledge, or reputation?