1:2. To the church of G.o.d that is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that invoke the name of our Lord Jesus Christ in every place of theirs and ours.
1:3. Grace to you and peace, from G.o.d our father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
1:4. I give thanks to my G.o.d always for you, for the grace of G.o.d that is given you in Christ Jesus:
1:5. That in all things you are made rich in him, in all utterance and in all knowledge;
1:6. As the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you,
1:7. So that nothing is wanting to you in any grace, waiting for the manifestation of our Lord Jesus Christ.
1:8. Who also will confirm you unto the end without crime, in the days of the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
1:9. G.o.d is faithful: by whom you are called unto the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
1:10. Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing and that there be no schisms among you: but that you be perfect in the same mind and in the same judgment.
1:11. For it hath been signified unto me, my brethren, of you, by them that are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you.
1:12. Now this I say, that every one of you saith: I indeed am of Paul; and I am of Apollo; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ.
1:13. Is Christ divided? Was Paul then crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?
1:14. I give G.o.d thanks, that I baptized none of you but Crispus and Caius:
1:15. Lest any should say that you were baptized in my name.
1:16. And I baptized also the household of Stepha.n.u.s. Besides, I know not whether I baptized any other.
1:17. For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not in wisdom of speech, lest the cross of Christ should be made void.
1:18. For the word of the cross, to them indeed that perish, is foolishness: but to them that are saved, that is, to us, it is the power of G.o.d.
1:19. For it is written: I will destroy the wisdom of the wise: and the prudence of the prudent I will reject.
1:20. Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this world? Hath not G.o.d made foolish the wisdom of this world?
1:21. For, seeing that in the wisdom of G.o.d, the world, by wisdom, knew not G.o.d, it pleased G.o.d, by the foolishness of our preaching, to save them that believe.
1:22. For both the Jews require signs: and the Greeks seek after wisdom.
1:23. But we preach Christ crucified: unto the Jews indeed a stumblingblock, and unto the Gentiles foolishness:
1:24. But unto them that are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ, the power of G.o.d and the wisdom of G.o.d.
1:25. For the foolishness of G.o.d is wiser than men: and the weakness of G.o.d is stronger than men.
The foolishness, etc... That is to say, what appears foolish to the world in the ways of G.o.d, is indeed most wise; and what appears weak is indeed above all the strength and comprehension of man.
1:26. For see your vocation, brethren, that there are not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many n.o.ble.
1:27. But the foolish things of the world hath G.o.d chosen, that he may confound the wise: and the weak things of the world hath G.o.d chosen, that he may confound the strong.
1:28. And the base things of the world and the things that are contemptible, hath G.o.d chosen: and things that are not, that he might bring to nought things that are:
1:29. That no flesh should glory in his sight.
1:30. But of him are you in Christ Jesus, who of G.o.d is made unto us wisdom and justice and sanctification and redemption:
1:31. That, as it is written: He that glorieth may glory in the Lord.
1 Corinthians Chapter 2
His preaching was not in loftiness of words, but in spirit and power.
And the wisdom he taught was not to be understood by the worldly wise or sensual man, but only by the spiritual man.
2:1. And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not in loftiness of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of Christ.
2:2. For I judged not myself to know anything among you, but Jesus Christ: and him crucified.
2:3. And I was with you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling.
2:4. And my speech and my preaching was not in the persuasive words of human wisdom, but in shewing of the Spirit and power:
2:5. That your faith might not stand on the wisdom of men, but on the power of G.o.d.
2:6. Howbeit we speak wisdom among the perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, neither of the princes of this world that come to nought.
2:7. But we speak the wisdom of G.o.d in a mystery, a wisdom which is hidden, which G.o.d ordained before the world, unto our glory:
2:8. Which none of the princes of this world knew. For if they had known it, they would never have crucified the Lord of glory.
2:9. But, as it is written: That eye hath not seen, nor ear heard: neither hath it entered into the heart of man, what things G.o.d hath prepared for them that love him.
2:10. But to us G.o.d hath revealed them by his Spirit. For the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of G.o.d.
2:11. For what man knoweth the things of a man, but the spirit of a man that is in him? So the things also that are of G.o.d, no man knoweth, but the Spirit of G.o.d.
2:12. Now, we have received not the spirit of this world, but the Spirit that is of G.o.d: that we may know the things that are given us from G.o.d.
2:13. Which things also we speak: not in the learned words of human wisdom, but in the doctrine of the Spirit, comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
2:14. But the sensual man perceiveth not these things that are of the Spirit of G.o.d. For it is foolishness to him: and he cannot understand, because it is spiritually examined.
The sensual man--the spiritual man... The sensual man is either he who is taken up with sensual pleasures, with carnal and worldly affections; or he who measureth divine mysteries by natural reason, sense, and human wisdom only. Now such a man has little or no notion of the things of G.o.d. Whereas the spiritual man is he who, in the mysteries of religion, takes not human sense for his guide: but submits his judgment to the decisions of the church, which he is commanded to hear and obey. For Christ hath promised to remain to the end of the world with his church, and to direct her in all things by the Spirit of truth.
2:15. But the spiritual man judgeth all things: and he himself is judged of no man.
2:16. For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him?