1Paul,1:1 Ac 13:9 called as an apostle1:1 Rm 1:1 of Christ Jesus by God’s will,1:1 2Co 1:1; Eph 1:1; Col 1:1; 2Tm 1:1 and Sosthenes our brother:1:1 Ac 18:17

4I always thank1:4 Rm 1:8; Php 1:3; Col 1:3; 1Th 1:2; 2Th 1:3; 2Tm 1:3; Phm 4 my God for you because of the grace of God given to you in Christ Jesus,

5that you were enriched in him1:5 2Co 8:9; 9:11 in every way, in all speech and all knowledge.1:5 Rm 15:14; 1Co 12:8; 2Co 8:7; 1Jn 2:20

6In this way, the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you,1:6 2Th 1:10; 1Tm 2:6; 2Tm 1:8; Rv 1:2

7so that you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait1:7 Lk 17:30; Rm 8:19; Php 3:20; Heb 9:28; 2Pt 3:12 for the revelation1:7 1Pt 4:13 of our Lord Jesus Christ.

8He will also strengthen you to the end,1:8 Php 1:6; 1Th 3:13 so that you will be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.1:8 Lk 17:24; 1Co 5:5; 2Co 1:14; Php 2:16; Col 1:22

9God is faithful;1:9 Dt 7:9; Is 49:7; 1Co 10:13; 2Co 1:18 you were called by him1:9 Rm 8:28 into fellowship with his Son,1:9 Jn 5:19; Heb 1:2; 1Jn 1:3 Jesus Christ our Lord.

10Now I urge you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree in what you say, that there be no divisions among you, and that you be united with the same understanding and the same conviction.

11For it has been reported to me about you, my brothers and sisters, by members of Chloe’s people, that there is rivalry1:11 Ti 3:9 among you.

12What I am saying is this: One of you says, “I belong to Paul,” or “I belong to Apollos,”1:12 Ti 3:13 or “I belong to Cephas,”1:12 Jn 1:42 or “I belong to Christ.”1:12 Mt 23:9–10

13Is Christ divided?1:13 1Co 12:5; 2Co 11:4; Eph 4:5 Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in Paul’s name?

14I thank God1:14 Other mss omit God1:14 Or I am thankful that I baptized none of you except Crispus1:14 Ac 18:8 and Gaius,1:14 Rm 16:23

15so that no one can say you were baptized in my name.

16I did, in fact, baptize the household1:16 Rm 16:5 of Stephanas;1:16 1Co 16:15,17 beyond that, I don’t recall if I baptized anyone else.

17For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel — not with eloquent wisdom, so that the cross1:17 Lk 23:26; Php 3:18 of Christ will not be emptied of its effect.

18For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but it is the power of God to us who are being saved.1:18 Ac 19:11; Rm 1:16; 2Co 13:4

19For it is written,

20Where is the one who is wise? Where is the teacher of the law?1:20 Or scholar Where is the debater of this age?1:20 Lk 16:8 Hasn’t God made the world’s wisdom foolish?

21For since, in God’s wisdom, the world did not know God through wisdom, God was pleased to save those who believe through the foolishness of what is preached.

22For the Jews ask for signs1:22 Mt 12:38 and the Greeks seek wisdom,

23but we preach Christ crucified,1:23 Lk 23:26; 1Co 2:2; Gl 3:1; 5:11 a stumbling block to the Jews and foolishness to the Gentiles.1:23 Other mss read Greeks

24Yet to those who are called,1:24 Rm 1:6 both Jews and Greeks, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God,

25because God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God’s weakness is stronger than human strength.

26Brothers and sisters, consider your calling: Not many were wise from a human perspective,1:26 Lit wise according to the flesh not many powerful,1:26 Ac 25:5 not many of noble birth.

27Instead, God has chosen1:27 Mt 24:22; Eph 1:4 what is foolish in the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen what is weak in the world to shame the strong.

28God has chosen what is insignificant and despised in the world1:28 Lk 18:9 — what is viewed as nothing — to bring to nothing what is viewed as something,

29so that no one1:29 Lit that not all flesh may boast in his presence.1:29 Ac 7:46

30It is from him that you are in Christ Jesus, who became wisdom from God for us — our righteousness,1:30 Mt 6:33; Rm 1:17; 2Pt 1:1 sanctification,1:30 1Th 4:3 and redemption1:30 Eph 1:7 — 

31in order that, as it is written:1:31 Mk 1:2 Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.1:31Jr 9:241:31 Jr 9:23–24