A rolled papyrus letter, tied and sealed, on a plain wooden table in a lamplit room at dawn, a reed pen and clay inkpot beside it.

The Book of

1 Corinthians 1

A church Paul planted is splitting into rival camps. He writes back with one message: Christ crucified.

31 verses≈ 5 min5 peopleBSB

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In this chapter

Where we are

1–4DivisionsChrist crucified, not rival leadersChapter 1
5–6A holy peopleDiscipline, lawsuits and the body
7–10Your questionsMarriage, food and freedom
11–14Worship togetherThe Supper, gifts and love
15–16Raised with ChristResurrection hope; the collection

Greetings from Paul and Sosthenes

From PaulTo the church of God in Corinth

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

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:

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

1 Corinthians 1:1–3

Tap to go deeper: meaning, history and related Scripture

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

Stylised map · locations approximate

On the map

From Ephesus to Corinth

Paul writes from Ephesus, during his long stay there. The letter crosses the Aegean, about 250 miles by sea, probably landing at Cenchrea, Corinth’s eastern harbor, then goes a few miles inland to “the church of God in Corinth,” a church Paul had planted a few years before.

Thanksgiving

I always thank my God for you because of the grace He has given you in Christ Jesus. For in Him you have been enriched in every way, in all speech and all knowledge, because our testimony about Christ was confirmed in you.

Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly await the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ. He will sustain you to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

God, who has called you into fellowship with His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful.

1 Corinthians 1:9

Unity in the Church

Paul

In this chapter

I thank God that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius, so no one can say that you were baptized into my name. Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas; beyond that I do not remember if I baptized anyone else.

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.

Question

Quick question

Paul is in Ephesus, across the sea from Corinth, when word reaches him about the church.

Who told Paul about the quarrels in Corinth?

The Message of the Cross

1 Corinthians 1:18

For it is written:

“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise;

the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”

Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 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.

Jews demand signs and Greeks search for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.

For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength.

Signs and wisdom

Whiteboard

Some wanted proof of power, others wanted a satisfying idea. God gave neither. He gave a crucified Messiah, which sounded like weakness and nonsense. But to all He calls, “both Jews and Greeks,” the crucified Christ is “the power of God and the wisdom of God.”

Pray

The power of God

Paul says the message of the cross is foolishness to some, “but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” Thank God that He opened your eyes to the cross. Then pray by name for someone who still finds it foolish, that God would call them too.

Wisdom from God

Dockworkers seen from behind carry clay amphorae on their shoulders up from a harbor quay at first light.

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. 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. He chose the lowly and despised things of the world, and the things that are not, to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast in His presence.

0:28

Narrated by Bob Souer · BSB audio, public domain

It is because of Him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God: our righteousness, holiness, and redemption.

Therefore, as it is written: “Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.”

1 Corinthians 1:31

Reflect

Boast in the Lord

The Corinthians boasted in their leaders and their gifts. Paul asks them to “consider the time of your calling”: not many were wise or powerful, and God chose them anyway. What are you tempted to take pride in? Write down one thing you have that you did not earn, and thank the Lord for it. “Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.”

You’ve experienced

1 Corinthians 1

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A verse to carry with you

For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

1 Corinthians 1:18

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