International Standard Version

English Standard Version

1From: Paul, called to be an apostle of the Messiah Jesus by the will of God, and from our brother Sosthenes.

1Paul, called by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and our brother Sosthenes,

2To: God's church in Corinth, to those who have been sanctified by the Messiah Jesus and called to be holy, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus, the Messiah —their Lord and ours.

2To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours:

3May grace and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus, the Messiah, be yours!

3Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

4I always thank my God for you because of the grace of God given you by the Messiah Jesus.

4I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus,

5For by him you have become rich in every way—in speech and knowledge of every kind—

5that in every way you were enriched in him in all speech and all knowledge—

6while our testimony about the Messiah has been confirmed among you.

6even as the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you—

7Therefore, you don't lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus the Messiah to be revealed.

7so that you are not lacking in any gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ,

8He will keep you strong until the end, so that you will be blameless on the Day of our Lord Jesus the Messiah.

8who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

9Faithful is the God by whom you were called into fellowship with his Son Jesus the Messiah, our Lord.

9God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

10Brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus the Messiah, I urge all of you to be in agreement and not to have divisions among you, so that you may be perfectly united in your understanding and opinions.

10I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment.

11My brothers, some members of Chloe's family have made it clear to me that there are quarrels among you.

11For it has been reported to me by Chloe’s people that there is quarreling among you, my brothers.

12This is what I mean: Each of you is saying, "I belong to Paul," or "I belong to Apollos," or "I belong to Cephas," or "I belong to the Messiah."

12What I mean is that each one of you says, “I follow Paul,” or “I follow Apollos,” or “I follow Cephas,” or “I follow Christ.”

13Is the Messiah divided? Paul wasn't crucified for you, was he? You weren't baptized in Paul's name, were you?

13Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?

14I thank God that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius,

14I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius,

15so that no one can say that you were baptized in my name.

15so that no one may say that you were baptized in my name.

16(Oh yes, I also baptized the family of Stephanas. Beyond that, I'm not sure whether I baptized anyone else.)

16(I did baptize also the household of Stephanas. Beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized anyone else.)

17For the Messiah did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, not with eloquent wisdom, so the cross of the Messiah won't be emptied of its power.

17For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.

18For the message about the cross is nonsense to those who are being destroyed, but it is God's power to us who are being saved.

18For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

19For it is written, "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the intelligence of the intelligent I will reject."

19For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.”

20Where is the wise person? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? God has turned the wisdom of the world into nonsense, hasn't he?

20Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?

21For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through its wisdom did not know God, God was pleased to save those who believe through the nonsense of our preaching.

21For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe.

22Jews ask for signs, and Greeks look for wisdom,

22For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom,

23but we preach the Messiah crucified. He is a stumbling block to Jews and nonsense to gentiles,

23but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles,

24but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, the Messiah is God's power and God's wisdom.

24but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.

25For God's nonsense is wiser than human wisdom, and God's weakness is stronger than human strength.

25For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

26Brothers, think about your own calling. Not many of you were wise by human standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth.

26For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth.

27But God chose what is nonsense in the world to make the wise feel ashamed. God chose what is weak in the world to make the strong feel ashamed.

27But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong;

28And God chose what is insignificant in the world, what is despised, what is nothing, in order to destroy what is something,

28God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are,

29so that no one may boast in God's presence.

29so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.

30It is because of God that you are in union with the Messiah Jesus, who for us has become wisdom from God, as well as our righteousness, sanctification, and redemption.

30And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption,

31Therefore, as it is written, "The person who boasts must boast in the Lord."

31so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”

The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY.

ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved.