Thematic Bible
1 Corinthians 1:1 (show verse)
Paul, called as an apostle (special messenger, personally chosen representative) of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and our brother Sosthenes,
1 Corinthians 1:2 (show verse)
To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified (set apart, made holy) in Christ Jesus, who are selected and called as saints (God’s people), together with all those who in every place call on and honor the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours:
1 Corinthians 1:3 (show verse)
Grace to you and peace [inner calm and spiritual well-being] from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 1:4 (show verse)
I thank my God always for you because of the grace of God which was given you in Christ Jesus,
1 Corinthians 1:5 (show verse)
so that in everything you were [exceedingly] enriched in Him, in all speech [empowered by the spiritual gifts] and in all knowledge [with insight into the faith].
1 Corinthians 1:6 (show verse)
In this way our testimony about Christ was confirmed and established in you,
1 Corinthians 1:7 (show verse)
so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift [which comes from the Holy Spirit], as you eagerly wait [with confident trust] for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ [when He returns].
1 Corinthians 1:8 (show verse)
And He will also confirm you to the end [keeping you strong and free of any accusation, so that you will be] blameless and beyond reproach in the day [of the return] of our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 1:9 (show verse)
God is faithful [He is reliable, trustworthy and ever true to His promise—He can be depended on], and through Him you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
1 Corinthians 1:10 (show verse)
But I urge you, believers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you be in full agreement in what you say, and that there be no divisions or factions among you, but that you be perfectly united in your way of thinking and in your judgment [about matters of the faith].
1 Corinthians 1:11 (show verse)
For I have been informed about you, my brothers and sisters, by those of Chloe’s household, that there are quarrels and factions among you.
1 Corinthians 1:12 (show verse)
Now I mean this, that each one of you says, “I am [a disciple] of Paul,” or “I am [a disciple] of Apollos,” or “I am [a disciple] of Cephas (Peter),” or “I am [a disciple] of Christ.”
1 Corinthians 1:13 (show verse)
Has Christ been divided [into different parts]? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized into the name of Paul? [Certainly not!]
1 Corinthians 1:14 (show verse)
I thank God that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius,
1 Corinthians 1:15 (show verse)
so that no one would say that you were baptized into my name.
1 Corinthians 1:16 (show verse)
Now I also baptized the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I do not know if I baptized anyone else.
1 Corinthians 1:17 (show verse)
For Christ did not send me [as an apostle] to baptize, but [commissioned and empowered me] to preach the good news [of salvation]—not with clever and eloquent speech [as an orator], so that the cross of Christ would not be made ineffective [deprived of its saving power].
1 Corinthians 1:18 (show verse)
For the message of the cross is foolishness [absurd and illogical] to those who are perishing and spiritually dead [because they reject it], but to us who are being saved [by God’s grace] it is [the manifestation of] the power of God.
1 Corinthians 1:19 (show verse)
For it is written and forever remains written,“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise [the philosophy of the philosophers],
And the cleverness of the clever [who do not know Me] I will nullify.”
And the cleverness of the clever [who do not know Me] I will nullify.”
1 Corinthians 1:20 (show verse)
Where is the wise man (philosopher)? Where is the scribe (scholar)? Where is the debater (logician, orator) of this age? Has God not exposed the foolishness of this world’s wisdom?
1 Corinthians 1:21 (show verse)
For since the world through all its [earthly] wisdom failed to recognize God, God in His wisdom was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached [regarding salvation] to save those who believe [in Christ and welcome Him as Savior].
1 Corinthians 1:22 (show verse)
For Jews demand signs (attesting miracles), and Greeks pursue [worldly] wisdom and philosophy,
1 Corinthians 1:23 (show verse)
but we preach Christ crucified, [a message which is] to Jews a stumbling block [that provokes their opposition], and to Gentiles foolishness [just utter nonsense],
1 Corinthians 1:24 (show verse)
but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks (Gentiles), Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God.
1 Corinthians 1:25 (show verse)
[This is] because the foolishness of God [is not foolishness at all and] is wiser than men [far beyond human comprehension], and the weakness of God is stronger than men [far beyond the limits of human effort].
1 Corinthians 1:26 (show verse)
Just look at your own calling, believers; not many [of you were considered] wise according to human standards, not many powerful or influential, not many of high and noble birth.
1 Corinthians 1:27 (show verse)
But God has selected [for His purpose] the foolish things of the world to shame the wise [revealing their ignorance], and God has selected [for His purpose] the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong [revealing their frailty].
1 Corinthians 1:28 (show verse)
God has selected [for His purpose] the insignificant (base) things of the world, and the things that are despised and treated with contempt, [even] the things that are nothing, so that He might reduce to nothing the things that are,
1 Corinthians 1:29 (show verse)
so that no one may [be able to] boast in the presence of God.
1 Corinthians 1:30 (show verse)
But it is from Him that you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God [revealing His plan of salvation], and righteousness [making us acceptable to God], and sanctification [making us holy and setting us apart for God], and redemption [providing our ransom from the penalty for sin],
1 Corinthians 1:31 (show verse)
so then, as it is written [in Scripture], “He who boasts and glories, let him boast and glory in the Lord.”