1 Corinthians 1:10-31

New International Version

A Church Divided Over Leaders

¹⁰ I appeal to you, brothers and sisters,^[a](A) in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you,^(B) but that you be perfectly united^(C) in mind and thought. ¹¹ My brothers and sisters, some from Chloe’s household^(D) have informed me that there are quarrels among you. ¹² What I mean is this: One of you says, “I follow Paul”;^(E) another, “I follow Apollos”;^(F) another, “I follow Cephas^[b]”;^(G) still another, “I follow Christ.”

¹³ Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized in the name of Paul?^{(H) 14} I thank God that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus^(I) and Gaius,^{(J) 15} so no one can say that you were baptized in my name. ¹⁶ (Yes, I also baptized the household^(K) of Stephanas;^(L) beyond that, I don’t remember if I baptized anyone else.) ¹⁷ For Christ did not send me to baptize,^(M) but to preach the gospel—not with wisdom^(N) and eloquence, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.

Christ Crucified Is God’s Power and Wisdom

¹⁸ For the message of the cross is foolishness^(O) to those who are perishing,^(P) but to us who are being saved^(Q) it is the power of God.^{(R) 19} For it is written:

²⁰ Where is the wise person?^(T) Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age?^(U) Has not God made foolish^(V) the wisdom of the world? ²¹ For since in the wisdom of God the world^(W) through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save^(X) those who believe.^{(Y) 22} Jews demand signs^(Z) and Greeks look for wisdom, ²³ but we preach Christ crucified:^(AA) a stumbling block^(AB) to Jews and foolishness^(AC) to Gentiles, ²⁴ but to those whom God has called,^(AD) both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God^(AE) and the wisdom of God.^{(AF) 25} For the foolishness^(AG) of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness^(AH) of God is stronger than human strength.

²⁶ Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called.^(AI) Not many of you were wise^(AJ) by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. ²⁷ But God chose^(AK) the foolish^(AL) things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. ²⁸ God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not^(AM)—to nullify the things that are, ²⁹ so that no one may boast before him.^{(AN) 30} It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus,^(AO) who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness,^(AP) holiness^(AQ) and redemption.^{(AR) 31} Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.”^[d](AS)