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 .
Divisions in the Church
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 .
The Wisdom of God vs. the Wisdom of the World
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 .
God's Choice of the Weak and Foolish
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 .