1 Corinthians 1

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

Paul, chosen to spread Jesus Christ's teachings by God's will, alongside our brother Sosthenes.

Unto 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:

To the faithful community in Corinth, dedicated to Jesus, chosen to be holy, and to everyone everywhere who calls upon Jesus, our shared Lord:

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

May you feel the soothing calm and loving kindness that comes from our Heavenly Father and our Savior, Jesus Christ.

I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ;

I'm forever grateful to God for you, for the love and kindness you've received through Jesus Christ.

That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge;

In everything, you are blessed by Him, with the gift of speech and wisdom.

Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you:

Just as you've experienced the truth of Christ's message within your own hearts.

So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ:

So you lack no spiritual gift, as you eagerly await the return of our beloved Lord Jesus Christ.

Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

He will strengthen you till the end, so you stand guiltless when Jesus Christ returns.

God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.

God is trustworthy, He invited you to share a deep connection with His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.

Now 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.

I urge you, my brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to agree with each other and avoid any disagreements. Be united in your thoughts and decisions.

For 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.

My dear friends, I've heard from Chloe's family that there's discord among you.

Now 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.

It seems each of you is claiming allegiance to different leaders - some to Paul, some to Apollos, some to Cephas, and some to Christ.

Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?

Is there division in Christ? Was it Paul who sacrificed his life for you? Or were you baptized under Paul's name?

I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius;

I'm grateful to God that I only baptized Crispus and Gaius among you all.

Lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name.

To avoid anyone thinking that I baptized in my own name.

And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any other.

I also welcomed Stephanas' family into our faith through baptism. Beyond that, I can't recall if I baptized anyone else.

For 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.

Christ didn't send me to perform baptisms, but to share His good news. I don't rely on fancy words, as it might diminish the power of His sacrifice on the cross.

For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

The message of the cross may seem absurd to those who are perishing; but for us who are being saved, it's the profound strength of God.

For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.

In simpler terms, the scripture says, "I will shatter the knowledge of the smart and nullify the insight of the wise."

Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?

Where are the intellectuals, the scholars, the debaters of our time? Hasn't God shown that the world's wisdom is just foolishness?

For 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.

In God's wisdom, the world failed to recognize Him. Yet, God found joy in using what seemed like foolish preaching to bring salvation to those who believed.

For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:

The Jews yearn for a miraculous sign, while the Greeks thirst for profound wisdom.

But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;

We passionately preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to the Jews and foolishness to the Greeks.

But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.

For those who are chosen, whether they are Jews or Greeks, Christ is God's strength and intelligence.

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

Even what seems like God's silliness is smarter than human wisdom, and what appears as God's frailty is more powerful than human strength.

For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:

Brothers, look at your calling. Notice how it's not often the worldly wise, the powerful, or the high-born who are chosen.

But 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;

God has chosen what the world sees as foolish to shame the wise, and what the world sees as weak to shame the strong.

And 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:

God has chosen the overlooked and the underestimated of this world, even the things that seem non-existent, to nullify the things that are prominent and powerful.

That no flesh should glory in his presence.

No one should boast about themselves before Him.

But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:

In Christ Jesus, we are born from God. He is our wisdom, our righteousness, our purification, and our salvation.

That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.

As the scriptures say, if you're going to boast, boast about the Lord.