Greetings from Paul and Sosthenes (Acts 18:1–11; 2 Corinthians 1:1–2)
1 WBS 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 WBS To the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both 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 WBS Grace be to you, and peace from God our Father, and from 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 WBS I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ; BSB BSB: I always thank my God for you because of the grace He has given you in Christ Jesus.
5 WBS That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge; BSB BSB: For in Him you have been enriched in every way, in all speech and all knowledge,
6 WBS Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you: BSB BSB: because our testimony about Christ was confirmed in you.
7 WBS So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming 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 WBS Who will also confirm you to the end, that ye may be blameless 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 WBS God is faithful, by whom ye were called to 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 WBS For it hath been declared to me concerning you, my brethren, by them who are of the house 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 WBS Now this I say, that every 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 WBS Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye 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 WBS I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius; BSB BSB: I thank God that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius,
15 WBS Lest any should say that I had baptized in my own name. BSB BSB: so no one can say that you were baptized into my name.
16 WBS 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 WBS For Christ hath not sent me to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect. 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 WBS For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. BSB BSB: For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”
21 WBS For when in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of 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 WBS For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek wisdom: BSB BSB: Jews demand signs and Greeks search for wisdom,
24 WBS But to them who 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 WBS 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 WBS For ye see your calling, brethren, that not many wise men 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 WBS But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; 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 WBS And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, and things which are not, to bring to naught 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 WBS That no flesh should glory in his presence. BSB BSB: so that no one may boast in His presence.
30 WBS But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who from God is made to us wisdom, 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 WBS 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.”