Add parallel Print Page Options

Greeting

From Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and from Sosthenes, our brother in the Christian faith.

To God’s church that was made holy by Christ Jesus and called to be God’s holy people in the city of Corinth and to people everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Good will [a] and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ are yours!

I always thank God for you because Christ Jesus has shown you God’s good will. Through Christ Jesus you have become rich in every way—in speech and knowledge of every kind. Our message about Christ has been verified among you. Therefore, you don’t lack any gift as you wait eagerly for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed. He will continue to give you strength until the end so that no one can accuse you of anything on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God faithfully keeps his promises. He called you to be partners with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.

God’s Wisdom Is Better Than the World’s Wisdom

10 Brothers and sisters, I encourage all of you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to agree with each other and not to split into opposing groups. I want you to be united in your understanding and opinions. 11 Brothers and sisters, some people from Chloe’s family have made it clear to me that you are quarreling among yourselves. 12 This is what I mean: Each of you is saying, “I follow Paul,” or “I follow Apollos,” or “I follow Cephas,” [b] or “I follow Christ.” 13 Has Christ been divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized in Paul’s name? 14 I thank God that [c] I didn’t baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius 15 so that no one can say you were baptized in my name. 16 I also baptized Stephanas and his family. Beyond that, I’m not sure whether I baptized anyone else. 17 Christ didn’t send me to baptize. Instead, he sent me to spread the Good News. I didn’t use intellectual arguments. That would have made the cross of Christ lose its meaning.

18 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. 19 Scripture says,

“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise.
I will reject the intelligence of intelligent people.”

20 Where is the wise person? Where is the scholar? Where is the persuasive speaker of our time? Hasn’t God turned the wisdom of the world into nonsense? 21 The world with its wisdom was unable to recognize God in terms of his own wisdom. So God decided to use the nonsense of the Good News we speak to save those who believe. 22 Jews ask for miraculous signs, and Greeks look for wisdom, 23 but our message is that Christ was crucified. This offends Jewish people and makes no sense to people who are not Jewish. 24 But to those Jews and Greeks who are called, he is Christ, God’s power and God’s wisdom. 25 God’s nonsense is wiser than human wisdom, and God’s weakness is stronger than human strength.

26 Brothers and sisters, consider what you were when God called you to be Christians. Not many of you were wise from a human point of view. You were not in powerful positions or in the upper social classes. 27 But God chose what the world considers nonsense to put wise people to shame. God chose what the world considers weak to put what is strong to shame. 28 God chose what the world considers ordinary and what it despises—what it considers to be nothing—in order to destroy what it considers to be something. 29 As a result, no one can brag in God’s presence. 30 You are partners with Christ Jesus because of God. Jesus has become our wisdom sent from God, our approval, our holiness, and our ransom from sin. 31 As Scripture says, “Whoever brags must brag about what the Lord has done.”

Footnotes

  1. 1:3 Or “Grace.”
  2. 1:12 Cephas   is the Aramaic name for the Apostle Peter.
  3. 1:14 A few of the older manuscripts read “I am thankful that.”

Appeal to Unity

Paul, (A)called as an apostle of Jesus Christ [a]by (B)the will of God, and our (C)brother (D)Sosthenes,

To (E)the church of God which is in (F)Corinth, to those who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, [b]saints (G)by calling, with all who in every place (H)call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours:

(I)Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

(J)I thank [c]my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given you in Christ Jesus, that in everything you were (K)enriched in Him, in all (L)speech and (M)all knowledge, just as (N)the testimony concerning Christ was confirmed [d]in you, so that you are not lacking in any gift, as you eagerly (O)await the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, (P)who will also [e]confirm you to the end, blameless on (Q)the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. (R)God is faithful, through whom you were (S)called into (T)fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

10 Now (U)I urge you, (V)brothers and sisters, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all [f]agree and that there be no [g](W)divisions among you, but that you be [h]made complete in (X)the same mind and in the same judgment. 11 For I have been informed concerning you, my brothers and sisters, by Chloe’s people, that there are quarrels among you. 12 Now I mean this, that (Y)each one of you is saying, “I am [i]with Paul,” [j]or “I am [k]with (Z)Apollos,” [l]or “I am [m]with [n](AA)Cephas,” [o]or “I am [p]with Christ.” 13 [q]Has Christ been divided? Paul was not crucified for you, was he? Or were you (AB)baptized [r]in the name of Paul? 14 I am thankful that I (AC)baptized none of you except (AD)Crispus and (AE)Gaius, 15 so that no one would say you were baptized [s]in my name! 16 But I did baptize the (AF)household of Stephanas also; beyond that, I do not know if I baptized anyone else. 17 (AG)For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, (AH)not with [t]cleverness of speech, so that the cross of Christ would not be made of no effect.

The Wisdom of God

18 For the word of the cross is (AI)foolishness to (AJ)those who [u]are perishing, but to us who [v]are being saved it is (AK)the power of God. 19 For it is written:

(AL)I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,
And the understanding of those who have understanding, I will confound.”

20 (AM)Where is the wise person? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of (AN)this age? Has God not (AO)made foolish the wisdom of (AP)the world? 21 For since in the wisdom of God (AQ)the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, (AR)God [w]was pleased through the (AS)foolishness of the [x]message preached to (AT)save those who believe. 22 For indeed (AU)Jews ask for [y]signs and Greeks search for wisdom; 23 but we preach [z](AV)Christ crucified, (AW)to Jews a stumbling block, and to Gentiles (AX)foolishness, 24 but to those who are (AY)the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ (AZ)the power of God and (BA)the wisdom of God. 25 For the (BB)foolishness of God is wiser than mankind, and (BC)the weakness of God is stronger than mankind.

26 For [aa]consider your (BD)calling, brothers and sisters, that there were (BE)not many wise according to [ab]the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; 27 but (BF)God has chosen the foolish things of (BG)the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of (BH)the world to shame the things which are strong, 28 and the [ac]insignificant things of (BI)the world and the despised God has chosen, (BJ)the things that are not, so that He may (BK)nullify the things that are, 29 so that (BL)no [ad]human may boast before God. 30 But it is [ae]due to Him that you are in (BM)Christ Jesus, who became to us (BN)wisdom from God, [af]and (BO)righteousness and (BP)sanctification, and (BQ)redemption, 31 so that, just as it is written: “(BR)Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”

Footnotes

  1. 1 Corinthians 1:1 Lit through
  2. 1 Corinthians 1:2 Lit holy ones; i.e., God’s people
  3. 1 Corinthians 1:4 Two early mss do not contain my
  4. 1 Corinthians 1:6 Or among
  5. 1 Corinthians 1:8 Or strengthen
  6. 1 Corinthians 1:10 Lit say the same thing
  7. 1 Corinthians 1:10 Lit schisms
  8. 1 Corinthians 1:10 Or united
  9. 1 Corinthians 1:12 Lit of
  10. 1 Corinthians 1:12 Lit and
  11. 1 Corinthians 1:12 Lit of
  12. 1 Corinthians 1:12 Lit and
  13. 1 Corinthians 1:12 Lit of
  14. 1 Corinthians 1:12 Peter’s Aramaic name
  15. 1 Corinthians 1:12 Lit and
  16. 1 Corinthians 1:12 Lit of
  17. 1 Corinthians 1:13 Or Christ has been divided! or Christ is divided!
  18. 1 Corinthians 1:13 Lit into
  19. 1 Corinthians 1:15 Lit into
  20. 1 Corinthians 1:17 I.e., persuasive rhetoric
  21. 1 Corinthians 1:18 Or perish
  22. 1 Corinthians 1:18 Or are saved
  23. 1 Corinthians 1:21 Or resolved
  24. 1 Corinthians 1:21 Lit preaching
  25. 1 Corinthians 1:22 Or confirming miracles
  26. 1 Corinthians 1:23 I.e., the Messiah
  27. 1 Corinthians 1:26 Lit see
  28. 1 Corinthians 1:26 I.e., human standards
  29. 1 Corinthians 1:28 Or lowly
  30. 1 Corinthians 1:29 Lit flesh
  31. 1 Corinthians 1:30 Lit from Him
  32. 1 Corinthians 1:30 Or both

Saludo

Pablo, llamado a ser apóstol de Jesucristo(A) por la voluntad de Dios(B), y Sóstenes(C), nuestro hermano(D), a la iglesia de Dios(E) que está en Corinto(F), a los que han sido santificados en Cristo Jesús, llamados a ser santos(G), con todos los que en cualquier parte invocan el nombre de nuestro Señor Jesucristo(H), Señor de ellos y nuestro: Gracia y paz a ustedes de parte de Dios nuestro Padre y del Señor Jesucristo(I).

Acción de gracias

Siempre doy gracias a mi Dios por ustedes(J), por la gracia de Dios que les fue dada en Cristo Jesús. Porque en todo ustedes fueron enriquecidos en Él(K), en toda palabra y en todo conocimiento(L), así como el testimonio acerca de Cristo[a](M) fue confirmado en[b] ustedes; de manera que nada les falta en ningún don, esperando ansiosamente la revelación de nuestro Señor Jesucristo(N). Él también los confirmará hasta el fin, para que sean irreprensibles(O) en el día de nuestro Señor Jesucristo(P). Fiel es Dios(Q), por medio de quien fueron llamados(R) a la comunión con Su Hijo Jesucristo(S), nuestro Señor.

Exhortación a la unidad

10 Les ruego, hermanos(T), por el nombre de nuestro Señor Jesucristo, que todos se pongan de acuerdo[c], y que no haya divisiones[d](U) entre ustedes, sino que estén enteramente unidos en un mismo sentir(V) y en un mismo parecer. 11 Porque he sido informado acerca de ustedes, hermanos míos, por los de Cloé, que hay discusiones entre ustedes. 12 Me refiero a que cada uno de ustedes dice: «Yo soy de Pablo», otro: «yo de Apolos(W)», otro: «yo de Cefas(X)», y otro: «yo de Cristo». 13 ¿Está dividido Cristo?[e] ¿Acaso fue Pablo crucificado por ustedes? ¿O fueron bautizados(Y) en el nombre de Pablo?

14 Doy gracias a Dios[f] que no bauticé a ninguno de ustedes(Z), excepto a Crispo(AA) y a Gayo(AB), 15 para que nadie diga que fueron bautizados en mi nombre. 16 También bauticé a los de la casa de Estéfanas(AC); por lo demás, no sé si bauticé a algún otro. 17 Pues Cristo no me envió a bautizar(AD), sino a predicar el evangelio, no con palabras elocuentes[g](AE), para que no se haga vana la cruz de Cristo.

Cristo, poder de Dios

18 Porque la palabra de la cruz es necedad(AF) para los que se pierden(AG), pero para nosotros los salvos es poder de Dios(AH). 19 Porque está escrito:

«Destruiré la sabiduría de los sabios,
Y el entendimiento de los inteligentes desecharé(AI)».

20 ¿Dónde está el sabio(AJ)? ¿Dónde está el escriba? ¿Dónde está el que sabe discutir en este siglo[h]? ¿No ha hecho Dios que la sabiduría de este mundo sea necedad(AK)? 21 Pues ya que en la sabiduría de Dios, el mundo no conoció a Dios(AL) por medio de su propia sabiduría, agradó a Dios(AM) mediante la necedad(AN) de la predicación salvar a los que creen(AO). 22 Porque en verdad los judíos piden señales[i](AP) y los griegos buscan sabiduría; 23 pero nosotros predicamos a Cristo crucificado(AQ), piedra de tropiezo para los judíos(AR), y necedad(AS) para los gentiles. 24 Sin embargo, para los llamados(AT), tanto judíos como griegos, Cristo es poder de Dios(AU) y sabiduría de Dios(AV). 25 Porque la necedad de Dios(AW) es más sabia que los hombres, y la debilidad de Dios(AX) es más fuerte que los hombres.

Cristo, sabiduría de Dios

26 Pues consideren[j], hermanos, su llamamiento(AY). No hubo muchos sabios conforme a la carne[k](AZ), ni muchos poderosos, ni muchos nobles. 27 Sino que Dios ha escogido(BA) lo necio del mundo(BB) para avergonzar a los sabios; y Dios ha escogido lo débil del mundo para avergonzar a lo que es fuerte. 28 También Dios ha escogido lo vil y despreciado del mundo(BC): lo que no es(BD), para anular lo que es(BE), 29 para que nadie[l] se jacte(BF) delante de Dios.

30 Pero por obra Suya[m] están ustedes en Cristo Jesús(BG), el cual se hizo para nosotros sabiduría de Dios(BH), y justificación(BI), santificación(BJ) y redención(BK), 31 para que, tal como está escrito: «El que se gloría, que se gloríe en el Señor(BL)».

Footnotes

  1. 1 Corintios 1:6 I.e. el Mesías.
  2. 1 Corintios 1:6 O entre.
  3. 1 Corintios 1:10 Lit. que hablen lo mismo.
  4. 1 Corintios 1:10 Lit. cismas.
  5. 1 Corintios 1:13 O ¡Cristo ha sido dividido! o, ¡Cristo está dividido!
  6. 1 Corintios 1:14 Algunos mss. antiguos no incluyen: a Dios.
  7. 1 Corintios 1:17 Lit. sabias.
  8. 1 Corintios 1:20 O mundo.
  9. 1 Corintios 1:22 O milagros.
  10. 1 Corintios 1:26 Lit. vean.
  11. 1 Corintios 1:26 O normas humanas.
  12. 1 Corintios 1:29 Lit. ninguna carne.
  13. 1 Corintios 1:30 Lit. Mas de Él.