1 Paul, a called apostle of Christ Jesus {Christos Iesous, Risen Commissioner} through the will of God {Theos, Sovereign Caller}, and Sosthenes the brother.
2 To the church {ekklēsia: called-out assembly} of God {Theos, Covenant Sanctifier} that is in Corinth, to those who have been sanctified {hēgiasmenois: made holy status} in Christ Jesus {Christos Iesous, Sanctifying Messiah}, called to be saints, together with all who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ {Kyrios Iesous Christos, Universal Lord}—their Lord and ours.
3 Grace to you and peace from God {Theos, Giver Of Peace} our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ {Kyrios Iesous Christos, Supreme Savior}.
4 I give thanks to my God {Theos, Personal Hearer of Prayer} always concerning you, because of the grace {charis: undeserved saving favor} of God that has been given to you in Christ Jesus {Christos Iesous, Channel of Divine Grace}.
5 Because in every way you were enriched in Him {Christos, Enriching Lord}, in all speech {logō: spoken expression} and all knowledge.
6 Just as the testimony {martyrion: confirming witness} of Christ {Christos, Confirmed Messiah} was confirmed in you.
7 So that you are not lacking in any gift {charismati: gracious spiritual enablement}, as you eagerly await the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ {Kyrios Iesous Christos, Coming Revealed Lord}.
8 He also will confirm you until the end, blameless {anegkletous: without reproach} in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ {Kyrios Iesous Christos, Coming Judge}.
9 God {Theos, Faithful Caller} is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord {Iesous Christos Kyrios, Covenant Lord}.
10 But I urge you, brothers, through the name of our Lord Jesus Christ {Kyrios Iesous Christos, Supreme Unifying Lord} that all of you say the same thing and that no divisions remain among you; rather, that you be perfected in the same mind {noi: shared understanding} and in the same judgment.
11 For it was made clear to me concerning you, my brothers, by the people of Chloe {Chloes: household source}, that there are quarrels {erides: divisive strife} among you.
12 Now I say this, that each one of you says, “I am of Paul,” “and I of Apollos,” “and I of Cephas {Kephas: Rock-named apostle},” “and I of Christ {Christos, Messiah King}.”
13 Has Christ {Christos, Undivided Lord} been divided? Was Paul crucified for you, or were you baptized in the name {onoma: covenant allegiance} of Paul?
14 I give thanks that I baptized none of you except Crispus {Krispos: early synagogue leader} and Gaius {Gaios: gracious host}.
15 So that no one might say that you were baptized {ebaptisthete: initiated through water} into my name {onoma: representative authority}.
16 And I also baptized the household {oikos: family unit} of Stephanas {Stephanas: Early Corinthian believer}; beyond that, I do not know if I baptized anyone else.
17 For Christ {Christos, Commissioning Messiah} did not send me to baptize, but to proclaim the gospel, not in wisdom {sophia: polished eloquence} of word, so that the cross of Christ should not be emptied of its power.
18 For the word {logos: divine message} of the cross is seen as foolishness by those who are perishing, but for us who are being saved it is the power of God {Theos, Saving Authority}.
19 For it is written, "I will bring down the wisdom of the wise {sophon: worldly insight}, and I will set aside the understanding of the discerning {syneton: intellectual evaluators}."
20 Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God {Theos, Wisdom-Confounding Judge} turned the wisdom {sophia: limited human insight} of the world into foolishness?
21 For since within the wisdom of God {Theos, Sovereign Designer} the world did not know God by its own wisdom, God was pleased to save those who believe through what is termed the foolishness of the proclamation {kerugma: public heralding}.
22 Since even Jews ask for signs {semeia: miraculous proofs} and Greeks seek wisdom {sophia: deep understanding}.
23 But we proclaim Christ {Christos, Crucified Messiah} as crucified—a stumbling block {skandalon: cause of offense} to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles.
24 But to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ {Christos, Power And Wisdom} is God’s {Theos, Wise Redeemer} power and God’s wisdom.
25 For what is called the foolishness of God {Theos, Surpassing Wise One} is wiser than men, and what is called the weakness {asthenes: apparent limitation} of God is stronger than men.
26 For you see your calling, brothers, that not many were wise according to the flesh {sarka: human standards}, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth {eugeneis: high social rank}.
27 But God {Theos, Paradoxical Chooser} chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise {sophous: socially esteemed thinkers}, and God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.
28 And God {Theos, Sovereign Chooser} chose the lowborn things of the world and the things that have been despised {exouthenēmena: treated as nothing}, and the things that are not, so that He might nullify the things that are.
29 So that no flesh {sarx: mortal humanity} might boast before God {Theos, Supreme Judge}.
30 But it is from God {Theos, Gracious Source} that you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God and also righteousness {dikaiosyne: covenant standing} and sanctification and redemption.
31 So that, just as it has been written, “Let the one who boasts {kauchomenos: expresses exultant confidence} boast in the Lord {Kyrios, True Boast Foundation}.”