Greetings from Paul and Sosthenes
(Acts 18:1–11; 2 Corinthians 1:1–2)

1Paul, a called apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes the brother,

2to the assembly of God which is at Corinth, sanctified in Christ Jesus, and called saints, with all, in every place, who call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ?their Lord and ours:

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

Thanksgiving
(Philippians 1:3–11; Colossians 1:3–14)

4I thank my God always concerning you, for the grace of God which was given you in Christ Jesus; 5that in everything ye were enriched in Him, in all speech and all knowledge; 6even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you; 7so that ye fall short in no gift, waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ; 8Who will also confirm you unto the end, unaccusable in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9God is faithful, through Whom ye were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Unity in the Church
(Ephesians 4:1–16)

10Now I beseech you, brethren, through the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfected in the same mind, and in the same judgment. 11For it was signified to me concerning you, my brethren, by those of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you. 12Now I mean this: that each one of you is saying, "I am of Paul;" and "I of Apollos;" and "I of Cephas:" and "I of Christ!" 13Hath Christ been divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were ye immersed into the name of Paul? 14I am thankful that I immersed no one of you, except Crispus and Gaius; 15lest some one should say that ye were immersed into my name. 16And I immersed also the household of Stephanas; besides, I know not whether I immersed any other. 17For Christ sent me not to immerse, but to proclaim the Gospel; not in wisdom of speech, lest the cross of Christ should be made void.

The Message of the Cross

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

19For it has been written, "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning will I set aside."

20Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Hath not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21For, since in the wisdom of God, the world through its wisdom knew not God, God was pleased through the foolishness of preaching to save those who believe; 22seeing that both Jews ask for signs, and Greeks seek after wisdom; 23but we preach Christ crucified; to the Jews, a stumbling-block, and to the gentiles foolishness; 24but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.

25Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

Wisdom from God

26For ye behold your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are chosen; 27but God chose the foolish things of the world, that He might put to shame the wise; and God chose the weak things of the world, that He might put to shame the things that are strong; 28and the base things of the world, and things despised, did God choose, and the things that are not, that He might bring to nought the things that are; 29that no flesh should glory before God. 30But of Him are ye in Christ Jesus, Who was made to us wisdom from God, also righteousness, and holiness, and redemption; 31that, even as it has been written, "He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord."