1 Corinthians 1
Paul rebukes the Corinthians for their divisions, as some claim to follow Paul, Apollos, Cephas, or Christ. He argues that the preaching of the cross is foolishness to those who perish but the power of God to those who are saved, and that God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise.
| v | King James Version | Modern English |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother, | Paul, called by the will of God to be an apostle of Jesus Christ, and our brother Sosthenes, |
| 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 theirs and ours: | To the church of God that is in Corinth — to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints — together with all those who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours: |
| 3 | Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. | Grace to You and peace from God our Father and 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; | I give thanks to my God always for You because of the grace of God that was given You in Christ Jesus. |
| 5 | That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge; | In Him You were enriched in every way — in all speech and in all knowledge— |
| 6 | Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you: | because the testimony about Christ was confirmed in You. |
| 7 | So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ: | You are not lacking in any spiritual gift as You wait for the revealing 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. | He will also keep You firm to the end, so that You will be blameless on 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. | God is faithful, by whom You were called into 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. | I urge You, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of You agree and that there be no divisions among You. Be united in the same mind and 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. | It has been reported to me by Chloe's people that there are quarrels among You, my brothers. |
| 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. | What I mean is this: each of You says, "I follow Paul," or "I follow Apollos," or "I follow Cephas," or "I follow Christ." |
| 13 | Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul? | Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized in the name of Paul? |
| 14 | I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius; | I am thankful that I baptized none of You except Crispus and Gaius, |
| 15 | Lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name. | so that no one can say you were baptized in my name. |
| 16 | And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any other. | I also baptized the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized anyone else. |
| 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. | For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel — not with wisdom of words, so that the cross of Christ might not be emptied of its power. |
| 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. | For the message of the cross is foolishness to them that perish, but to us who 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. | For it is written: "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and I will set aside the understanding of the intelligent." |
| 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? | Where is the wise man? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the 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. | For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of what is preached to save those who believe. |
| 22 | For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: | Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, |
| 23 | But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; | but we preach Christ crucified — a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, |
| 24 | But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. | but 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. | For 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: | Brothers, consider Your calling: not many of You were wise by human standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. |
| 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; | But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. |
| 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: | God chose the lowly things of this world, the despised things — and the things that are not — to bring to nothing the things that are, |
| 29 | That no flesh should glory in his presence. | so that no one may boast before God. |
| 30 | But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: | It is because of Him that You are in Christ Jesus, Who has become for us wisdom from God — that is, our righteousness, sanctification, and redemption— |
| 31 | That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord. | Therefore, as it is written: "Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord." |