The Epistles · Chapter 1 of 16
1 Corinthians 1
Paul greets the divided Corinthian church, thanks God for their gifts, and pleads for unity in place of factions rallying behind Paul, Apollos, Cephas, or Christ. He insists the message of the cross, though foolishness to the perishing, is the power and wisdom of God. God chose the weak and foolish things of the world to shame the strong, so no one may boast, for Christ is made to us wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption.
What happens in 1 Corinthians 1
Paul opens as an apostle of Jesus Christ, addressing the church at Corinth as those sanctified in Christ and called to be saints. He thanks God for the grace given them, that they are enriched in all knowledge and lack no gift while awaiting Christ's return. Then he appeals for unity, having heard of contentions in which people align with Paul, Apollos, Cephas, or Christ. He asks whether Christ is divided, since Christ sent him to preach the gospel, not with clever words that would empty the cross of its power.
The preaching of the cross is foolishness to those perishing but the power of God to the saved. Jews seek signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but Paul preaches Christ crucified, a stumbling block and folly to some but God's power and wisdom to the called. God chose the weak and lowly to shame the strong, so no one boasts, for Christ is our wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption.
1 Corinthians 1 in context
First Corinthians addresses a gifted but troubled church in a wealthy, competitive Greek city. Reports had reached Paul of factions, immorality, and confusion. He opens the letter by confronting the divisions first, tracing them to a worldly love of eloquence and status that clashes with the humble message of a crucified Messiah.
This sets the theme of God's wisdom against human pride that runs through the opening chapters.
Main themes of 1 Corinthians 1
1 Corinthians 1 (KJV)
1Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother, 2Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours: 3Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. 4I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ; 5That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge; 6Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you: 7So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ: 8Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord. 10Now I beseech you, brethren, by 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 perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. 11For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you. 12Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. 13Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul? 14I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius; 15Lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name. 16And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any other. 17For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. 18For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. 19For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. 20Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? 21For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. 22For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: 23But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; 24But unto them which 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. 26For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: 27But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; 28And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: 29That no flesh should glory in his presence. 30But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: 31That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.
Verses to carry from 1 Corinthians 1
“For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.”1 Corinthians 1:18
“But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;”1 Corinthians 1:23
“But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:”1 Corinthians 1:30
Thematic connection
How 1 Corinthians 1 points to Jesus
Christ crucified is the beating heart of this chapter. Paul refuses to preach with clever words lest the cross be robbed of its power, because the cross itself is the power and wisdom of God to those being saved. To Jews it is a stumbling block and to Greeks foolishness, yet to the called it is Christ the power and wisdom of God. The crucified Messiah overturns every worldly measure of strength, exposing human wisdom as folly before God.
Most beautifully, Paul says Christ is made unto us wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption, so everything the believer needs is found in Him rather than in personal attainment. Because our whole standing is in Christ, all boasting is silenced, and the only glory left is to glory in the Lord. The divided church is called back to this single center.
Questions about 1 Corinthians 1
Why does Paul say the message of the cross is foolishness?
To a world that prized philosophical wisdom and demanded miraculous signs, a crucified Messiah looked like weakness and defeat. Paul says the preaching of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to those being saved it is the power of God. God deliberately chose to save through what the world despises, so that salvation would rest on His power rather than human cleverness, leaving no room for boasting.
How does 1 Corinthians 1 address church divisions?
Paul confronts the Corinthians for splitting into factions loyal to Paul, Apollos, Cephas, or Christ, asking pointedly whether Christ is divided and whether Paul was crucified for them. He redirects their loyalty from human teachers to the crucified Lord alone. Since Christ is made to believers their wisdom and righteousness, no one has grounds to boast in a favorite leader, and unity is found by glorying only in the Lord.
Reflection
It is natural to admire eloquence, strength, and success, and to rally behind impressive people. Paul warns that this instinct can splinter the church and empty the cross of its power. Ask whether your confidence rests in the crucified Christ or in something the world calls wisdom, and whether your boasting could ever be only in the Lord.
A prayer from 1 Corinthians 1
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