Greetings from Paul and Sosthenes (Acts 18:1–11; 2 Corinthians 1:1–2)
1 RV Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother, BSB BSB: Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and our brother Sosthenes,
2 RV unto the church of God which is at Corinth, even them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ in every place, their Lord 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 RV Grace to you and peace 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 RV I thank my God always concerning you, for the grace of God which was given 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 RV that in everything ye were enriched in him, in all utterance and all knowledge; BSB BSB: For in Him you have been enriched in every way, in all speech and all knowledge,
6 RV even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you: BSB BSB: because our testimony about Christ was confirmed in you.
7 RV so that ye come behind in no gift; 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 RV who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye be unreproveable in 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 RV God is faithful, through whom ye 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 RV For it hath been signified unto me concerning you, my brethren, by them which are of the household of Chloe, that there are contentions among you. BSB BSB: My brothers, some from Chloe’s household have informed me that there are quarrels among you.
12 RV Now this I mean, that each one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I 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 RV Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized into the name of Paul? BSB BSB: Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized into the name of Paul?
14 RV I thank God that I baptized none of you, save Crispus and Gaius; BSB BSB: I thank God that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius,
15 RV lest any man should say that ye were baptized into my name. BSB BSB: so no one can say that you were baptized into my name.
16 RV And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any other. BSB BSB: Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas; beyond that I do not remember if I baptized anyone else.
17 RV For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not in wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made void. 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 RV For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, And the prudence of the prudent will I reject. BSB BSB: For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”
21 RV For seeing that in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom knew not God, it was God’s good pleasure through the foolishness of the preaching to save them that believe. 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 RV Seeing that Jews ask for signs, and Greeks seek after wisdom: BSB BSB: Jews demand signs and Greeks search for wisdom,
24 RV but unto them that are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ 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 RV Because 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 RV For behold your calling, brethren, how that not many wise after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called : 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 RV but God chose the foolish things of the world, that he might put to shame them that are wise; and God chose the weak things of the world, that he might put to shame the things that are 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 RV and the base things of the world, and the things that are despised, did God choose, yea and the things that are not, that he might bring to nought 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 RV that no flesh should glory before God. BSB BSB: so that no one may boast in His presence.
30 RV But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who was made unto us wisdom from God, and righteousness and 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 RV that, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord. BSB BSB: Therefore, as it is written: “Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.”
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.