1 Corinthians

The first epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Corinthians, chapter 1, New English Translation and King James Version

Chapter 1 New English Translation

Salutation

   1 From Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Sosthenes, our brother, 2 to 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. 3 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the LORD Jesus Christ!

Thanksgiving

   4 I always thank my God for you because of the grace of God that was given to you in Christ Jesus. 5 For you were made rich in every way in him, in all your speech and in every kind of knowledge - 6 just as the testimony about Christ has been confirmed among you - 7 so that you do not lack any spiritual gift as you wait for the revelation of our LORD Jesus Christ. 8 He will also strengthen you to the end, so that you will be blameless on 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.

Divisions in the Church

   10 I 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. 11 For members of Chloe's household have made it clear to me, my brothers and sisters, that there are quarrels among you. 12 Now 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." 13 Is Christ divided? Paul wasn't crucified for you, was he? Or were you in fact baptized in the name of Paul? 14 I thank God that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15 so 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. ) 17 For 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.

The Message of the Cross

   18 For 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. 19 For it is written, "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and I will thwart the cleverness of the intelligent." 20 Where 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? 21 For 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. 22 For Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks ask for wisdom, 23 but we preach about a crucified Christ, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles. 24 But to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.
   26 Think 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. 27 But God chose what the world thinks foolish to shame the wise, and God chose what the world thinks weak to shame the strong. 28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, what is regarded as nothing, to set aside what is regarded as something, 29 so that no one can boast in his presence. 30 He is the reason you have a relationship with Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification and redemption, 31 so that, as it is written, "Let the one who boasts, boast in the LORD."

King James Version

   1 Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother,
   2 Unto 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 their's and our's:
   3 Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
   4 I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ;
   5 That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge;
   6 Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you:
   7 So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ:
   8 Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
   9 God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.
   10 Now 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.
   11 For 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.
   12 Now 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.
   13 Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?
   14 I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius;
   15 Lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name.
   16 And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any other.
   17 For 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.
   18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
   19 For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.
   20 Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?
   21 For 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.
   22 For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:
   23 But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;
   24 But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ 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.
   26 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:
   27 But 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;
   28 And 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:
   29 That no flesh should glory in his presence.
   30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:
   31 That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.