1 Corinthians 1

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

Paul, a called apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and brother Sosthenes,

2 to the assembly of God which is at Corinth—those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called saints, with all who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ in every place, both theirs and ours:

to the church of God that is in Corinth, to those who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, called saints, along with all those everywhere who call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord —yes, theirs and yours:

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

Grace and peace to you from God our Father and Sovereign Jesus Christ.

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

Concerning you, I always thank my God because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus;

5 that in everything you were enriched in him, in all speech and all knowledge—

for in Him you were enriched in every way, in all speech and all knowledge,

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

even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you,

7 so that you come behind in no gift, waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ,

so that you lack no spiritual gift as you expectantly await the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ,

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

who will also confirm you until the end, blameless in the Day of our Lord, Jesus Christ.

9 God is faithful, through whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

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

10 Now 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.

Now I appeal to you, brothers, by 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 restored to the same mind and to the same purpose.

11 For it has been reported to me concerning you, my brothers, by those who are from Chloe’s household, that there are contentions among you.

You see, my brothers, it has been reported to me concerning you, by some from Chloe's household, that there are contentions among you.

12 Now I mean this, that each one of you says, “I follow Paul,” “I follow Apollos,” “I follow Cephas,” and, “I follow Christ.”

What I mean is that you are individually saying: “I am of Paul,” or “I am of Apollos,” or “I am of Cephas,” or “I am of Christ!”

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

Has Christ been divided? It was not Paul who was crucified for you, was it? You were not baptized into the name of Paul, were you?

14 I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius,

I thank God that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius,

15 so that no one should say that I had baptized you into my own name.

lest anyone should say that I had baptized into my own name.

16 (I also baptized the household of Stephanas; besides them, I don’t know whether I baptized any other.)

O yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanus; besides them I do not remember if I baptized anyone else.

17 For 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.

Because Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the Gospel—not with eloquent ‘wisdom’, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of power.

18 For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are dying, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

The message of the cross, you see, is foolishness to those who are being wasted, 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. I will bring the discernment of the discerning to nothing.”

For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and confound the shrewdness of the intelligent.”

20 Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Hasn’t God made foolish the wisdom of this world? (aiōn g165)

Where is the wise one? Where is the scholar? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? (aiōn g165)

21 For 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.

For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through its ‘wisdom’ did not get to know God, it pleased God to save the believing ones through the ‘foolishness’ of what was preached—

22 For Jews ask for signs, Greeks seek after wisdom,

since Jews request a sign while Greeks seek after wisdom,

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

but we proclaim a crucified Christ: an offense to Jews, foolishness to Greeks.

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

Now to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God,

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

because the ‘foolishness’ of God is wiser than men, and the ‘weakness’ of God is stronger than men.

26 For you see your calling, brothers, that not many are wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, and not many noble;

Just look at your calling, brothers: not many are wise, not many are powerful, not many are of noble birth, by human standards;

27 but 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.

but God has chosen the foolish things of the world that He might put the wise to shame, and God has chosen the weak things of the world that He might put the strong things to shame;

28 God chose the lowly things of the world, and the things that are despised, and the things that don’t exist, that he might bring to nothing the things that exist,

and God has chosen the lowly things of the world and the despised things—even the ‘nothings’—that He might nullify the ‘somethings’;

29 that no flesh should boast before God.

so that no flesh should boast in God's presence.

30 Because of him, you are in Christ Jesus, who was made to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption,

It is from Him that you are in Christ Jesus, who was made to us wisdom from God—also righteousness and sanctification and redemption—

31 that, as it is written, “He who boasts, let him boast in the Lord.”

so that, as it is written: “He who boasts, let him boast in the Lord.”