1 Corinthians 1
1 Corinthians 1 serves as the opening of the letter apostle Paul sends to the church in Corinth, introducing the background and the central issues of the entire book. This chapter consists of words of greeting (verses 1–3), expressions of thanksgiving (verses 4–9), and then rebuke and encouragement regarding disputes within the church (verses 10–17), concluding with teaching about the cross of Christ and the wisdom of God (verses 18–31).
1versePaul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and our brother Sosthenes,
2verseto 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:
3verseGrace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
4verseI always thank my God concerning you for the grace of God which was given you in Christ Jesus,
5versethat in everything you were enriched in him, in all speech and all knowledge—
6verseeven as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you—
7verseso that you come behind in no gift, waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ,
8versewho will also confirm you until the end, blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
9verseGod is faithful, through whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
10verseNow 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.
11verseFor it has been reported to me concerning you, my brothers, by those who are from Chloe’s household, that there are contentions among you.
12verseNow I mean this, that each one of you says, “I follow Paul,” “I follow Apollos,” “I follow Cephas,” and, “I follow Christ.”
13verseIs Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized into the name of Paul?
14verseI thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius,
15verseso that no one should say that I had baptized you into my own name.
16verse(I also baptized the household of Stephanas; besides them, I don’t know whether I baptized any other.)
17verseFor 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.
18verseFor 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.
19verseFor it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise. I will bring the discernment of the discerning to nothing.”
20verseWhere is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Hasn’t God made foolish the wisdom of this world?
21verseFor 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.
22verseFor Jews ask for signs, Greeks seek after wisdom,
23versebut we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Greeks,
24versebut to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God;
25versebecause the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
26verseFor you see your calling, brothers, that not many are wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, and not many noble;
27versebut 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.
28verseGod 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,
29versethat no flesh should boast before God.
30verseBecause of him, you are in Christ Jesus, who was made to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption,
31versethat, as it is written, “He who boasts, let him boast in the Lord.”
Greeting and Thanksgiving (1:1-9)
- Greeting (verses 1–3): Paul introduces himself as an apostle and prays for God’s grace and peace upon the saints of the church in Corinth.
- Thanksgiving (verses 4–9): Paul gives thanks for the grace the church in Corinth has received in Christ—especially the richness in speech and knowledge—and he is confident that Christ will strengthen them to the end.
Encouragement Regarding Disputes Within the Church (1:10-17)
Paul hears that factions have arisen within the church in Corinth (Paul, Apollos, Cephas, the Christ party, and so on), and he urges all the saints to become one with the same mind and the same purpose. He emphasizes that the church must be united not under his own name but under the name of Christ alone.
The Message of the Cross and God’s Wisdom (1:18-31)
- Paul explains that the message of the cross looks like foolishness to people in the world, but to those who are being saved it is God’s power.
- The wisdom of the world and God’s wisdom are contrasted, and he stresses that God highlights his wisdom and power by using those who appear weak and foolish to the world.
Meditation Points
- How are you living for unity rather than division within the faith community?
- Are you trusting the wisdom and grace God gives, rather than the world’s values and standards (wisdom)?
Try Applying It to Yourself
1 Corinthians 1 helps us confirm again that our faith is not based on human beings or the wisdom of the world, but on the cross of Jesus Christ and God’s call. Today, look back on what you put your trust in as the basis, and commit yourself to practicing unity within the faith community.
