Greetings from Paul and Sosthenes (Acts 18:1–11; 2 Corinthians 1:1–2)
1 ULT Paul, called{ to be} an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Sosthenes the brother, BSB BSB: Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and our brother Sosthenes,
2 ULT to the church of God that is in Corinth, having been sanctified in Christ Jesus, called saints, with all the ones in every place calling on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, theirs and ours. BSB BSB: To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be holy, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours:
3 ULT Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. BSB BSB: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Thanksgiving (Philippians 1:3–11; Colossians 1:3–14)
4 ULT I always give thanks to my God for you because of the grace of God, the one having been given to you in Christ Jesus. BSB BSB: I always thank my God for you because of the grace He has given you in Christ Jesus.
5 ULT For in everything you were made rich in him, in all word and all knowledge, BSB BSB: For in Him you have been enriched in every way, in all speech and all knowledge,
6 ULT just as the testimony of Christ has been confirmed among you, BSB BSB: because our testimony about Christ was confirmed in you.
7 ULT so that you do not lack in any gift, eagerly waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, BSB BSB: Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly await the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ.
8 ULT who will also confirm you to the end, blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. BSB BSB: He will sustain you to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
9 ULT God{ is} faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. BSB BSB: God, who has called you into fellowship with His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful.
Unity in the Church (Psalm 133:1–3; Ephesians 4:1–16)
11 ULT For it was made clear to me concerning you, my brothers, by those of Chloe, that there are factions among you. BSB BSB: My brothers, some from Chloe’s household have informed me that there are quarrels among you.
12 ULT Now I say this, that each of you says,“I am of Paul,” or“I am of Apollos,” or“I am of Cephas,” or“I am of Christ.” BSB BSB: What I mean is this: Individuals among you are saying, “I follow Paul,” “I follow Apollos,” “I follow Cephas,” or “I follow Christ.”
13 ULT Has Christ been divided? Paul was not crucified for you, was he? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? BSB BSB: Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized into the name of Paul?
14 ULT I thank{ God} that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, BSB BSB: I thank God that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius,
15 ULT so that no one might say that you were baptized into my name. BSB BSB: so no one can say that you were baptized into my name.
16 ULT (Now I also baptized the household of Stephanas. Beyond that, I do not know if I baptized any others.) BSB BSB: Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas; beyond that I do not remember if I baptized anyone else.
17 ULT For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to proclaim the gospel— not with wise speech so that the cross of Christ would not be emptied. BSB BSB: For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with words of wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.
The Message of the Cross 19 ULT For it is written,“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and I will frustrate the understanding of the intelligent.” BSB BSB: For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”
21 ULT For since in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, God was pleased to save the ones believing through the foolishness of the preaching. BSB BSB: For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know Him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.
22 ULT For indeed, Jews ask for signs and Greeks seek wisdom. BSB BSB: Jews demand signs and Greeks search for wisdom,
24 ULT But to them, the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ{ is} the power of God and the wisdom of God. BSB BSB: but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.
25 ULT For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God{ is} stronger than men. BSB BSB: For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength.
Wisdom from God 26 ULT For consider your calling, brothers, that not many{ were} wise according to the flesh, not many{ were} powerful,{ and} not many{ were} of noble birth. BSB BSB: Brothers, consider the time of your calling: Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were powerful; not many were of noble birth.
27 ULT But God chose the foolish things of the world in order that he might shame the wise, and God chose the weak things of the world in order that he might shame the strong, BSB BSB: But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.
28 ULT and God chose the base things and the despised things of the world,{ and} the{ things that} are not, in order that he might bring to nothing the{ things that} are, BSB BSB: He chose the lowly and despised things of the world, and the things that are not, to nullify the things that are,
29 ULT so that no flesh might boast before God. BSB BSB: so that no one may boast in His presence.
30 ULT But because of him, you are in Christ Jesus, who was made for us wisdom from God, righteousness, and also sanctification and redemption, BSB BSB: It is because of Him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God: our righteousness, holiness, and redemption.
31 ULT so that, just as it is written,“Let the one boasting, boast in the Lord.” BSB BSB: Therefore, as it is written: “Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.”
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