1 Corinthians

1Corinthians 1

1 From: ^{a1:1 The Gk. lacks From} Paul, called to be an apostle of the Messiah ^{b1:1 Or Christ} Jesus ^{c1:1 Other mss. read Jesus the Messiah} by the will of God, and from our brother Sosthenes.ISV — 1Corinthians 1:1

2 To: God’s church in Corinth, to those who have been sanctified by the Messiah ^{d1:2 Or Christ} Jesus and called to be holy, ^{e1:2 Or to be saints} together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus, the Messiah ^{f1:2 Or Christ} —their Lord ^{g1:2 Lit. theirs} and ours.ISV — 1Corinthians 1:2

3 May grace and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus, the Messiah, ^{h1:3 Or Christ} be yours!ISV — 1Corinthians 1:3

4 I always thank my ^{i1:4 Other mss. lack my} God for you because of the grace of God given you by the Messiah ^{j1:4 Or Christ} Jesus.ISV — 1Corinthians 1:4

5 For by him you have become rich in every way—in speech and knowledge of every kind—ISV — 1Corinthians 1:5

6 while our testimony about the Messiah ^{k1:6 Or Christ} has been confirmed among you.ISV — 1Corinthians 1:6

7 Therefore, you don’t lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus the Messiah ^{l1:7 Or Christ} to be revealed.ISV — 1Corinthians 1:7

8 He will keep you strong until the end, so that you will be blameless on the Day of our Lord Jesus the Messiah. ^{m1:8 Or Christ}ISV — 1Corinthians 1:8

9 Faithful is the God by whom you were called into fellowship with his Son Jesus the Messiah, ^{n1:9 Or Christ} our Lord.ISV — 1Corinthians 1:9

10 Brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus the Messiah, ^{o1:10 Or Christ} I urge all of you to be in agreement ^{p1:10 Lit. to say the same thing} and not to have divisions among you, so that you may be perfectly united in your understanding and opinions.ISV — 1Corinthians 1:10

11 My brothers, some members of Chloe’s family have made it clear to me that there are quarrels among you.ISV — 1Corinthians 1:11

12 This is what I mean: Each of you is saying, “I belong to Paul,” or “I belong to Apollos,” or “I belong to Cephas,” ^{q1:12 i.e. Peter} or “I belong to the Messiah.” ^{r1:12 Or Christ}ISV — 1Corinthians 1:12

13 Is the Messiah ^{s1:13 Or Christ} divided? Paul wasn’t crucified for you, was he? You weren’t baptized in Paul’s name, were you?ISV — 1Corinthians 1:13

14 I thank God ^{t1:14 Other mss. read I thank my God; still other mss. read I am thankful} that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius,ISV — 1Corinthians 1:14

15 so that no one can say that you were baptized in my name.ISV — 1Corinthians 1:15

16 (Oh yes, I also baptized the family of Stephanas. Beyond that, I’m not sure whether I baptized anyone else.)ISV — 1Corinthians 1:16

17 For the Messiah ^{u1:17 Or Christ} did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, not with eloquent wisdom, so the cross of the Messiah ^{v1:17 Or Christ} won’t be emptied of its power.ISV — 1Corinthians 1:17

18 For the message about the cross is nonsense to those who are being destroyed, but it is God’s power to us who are being saved.ISV — 1Corinthians 1:18

19 For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the intelligence of the intelligent I will reject.” ^{w1:19 Isa 29:14}ISV — 1Corinthians 1:19

20 Where is the wise person? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? God has turned the wisdom of the world into nonsense, hasn’t he?ISV — 1Corinthians 1:20

21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through its wisdom did not know God, ^{x1:21 The Gk. lacks God} God was pleased to save those who believe through the nonsense of our preaching.ISV — 1Corinthians 1:21

22 Jews ask for signs, and Greeks look for wisdom,ISV — 1Corinthians 1:22

23 but we preach the Messiah ^{y1:23 Or Christ} crucified. He is a stumbling block to Jews and nonsense to gentiles,ISV — 1Corinthians 1:23

24 but to those who are called, ^{z1:24 Or chosen} both Jews and Greeks, the Messiah ^{aa1:24 Or Christ} is God’s power and God’s wisdom.ISV — 1Corinthians 1:24

25 For God’s nonsense is wiser than human wisdom, ^{bb1:25 Lit. than men} and God’s weakness is stronger than human strength. ^{cc1:25 Lit. than men}ISV — 1Corinthians 1:25

26 Brothers, think about your own calling. Not many of you were wise by human standards, ^{dd1:26 Lit. according to the flesh} not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth.ISV — 1Corinthians 1:26

27 But God chose what is nonsense in the world to make the wise feel ashamed. God chose what is weak in the world to make the strong feel ashamed.ISV — 1Corinthians 1:27

28 And God chose what is insignificant in the world, what is despised, what is nothing, in order to destroy what is something,ISV — 1Corinthians 1:28

29 so that no one ^{ee1:29 Lit. flesh} may boast in God’s presence.ISV — 1Corinthians 1:29

30 It is because of God ^{ff1:30 Lit. him} that you are in union with the Messiah ^{gg1:30 Or Christ} Jesus, who for us has become wisdom from God, as well as our righteousness, sanctification, and redemption.ISV — 1Corinthians 1:30

31 Therefore, as it is written, “The person who boasts must boast in the Lord.” ^{hh1:31 Jer 9:24; MT source citation reads LORD}ISV — 1Corinthians 1:31