Greetings from Paul

(2 Corinthians 1:1-2)

1Paul, [a] called apostle of Jesus Christ, by God's will, and Sosthenes the brother,

2to the assembly of God which is in Corinth, to [those] sanctified in Christ Jesus, called saints, with all that in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both theirs and ours:

3Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and [the] Lord Jesus Christ.

Thanksgiving

(Philippians 1:3-11; Colossians 1:3-14; 2 Thessalonians 1:3-4)

4I thank my God always about you, in respect of the grace of God given to you in Christ Jesus; 5that in everything ye have been enriched in him, in all word [of doctrine], and all knowledge, 6(according as the testimony of the Christ has been confirmed in you,) 7so that ye come short in no gift, awaiting the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ; 8who shall also confirm you to [the] end, unimpeachable in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9God [is] faithful, by whom ye have been called into [the] fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.

Unity in the Church

(Psalm 133:1-3; Ephesians 4:1-16)

10Now I exhort you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all say the same thing, and that there be not among you divisions; but that ye be perfectly united in the same mind and in the same opinion. 11For it has been shewn to me concerning you, my brethren, by those of [the house of] Chloe, that there are strifes among you. 12But I speak of this, that each of you says, I am of Paul, and I of Apollos, and I of Cephas, and I of Christ. 13Is the Christ divided? has Paul been crucified for you? or have ye been baptised unto the name of Paul? 14I thank God that I have baptised none of you, unless Crispus and Gaius, 15that no one may say that I have baptised unto my own name. 16Yes, I baptised also the house of Stephanas; for the rest I know not if I have baptised any other. 17For Christ has not sent me to baptise, but to preach glad tidings; not in wisdom of word, that the cross of the Christ may not be made vain.

Christ the Wisdom and Power of God

18For the word of the cross is to them that perish foolishness, but to us that are saved it is God's power.

19For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and set aside the understanding of the understanding ones.

20Where [is the] wise? where scribe? where disputer of this world? has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21For since, in the wisdom of God, the world by wisdom has not known God, God has been pleased by the foolishness of the preaching to save those that believe. 22Since Jews indeed ask for signs, and Greeks seek wisdom; 23but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews an offence, and to nations foolishness; 24but to those that [are] called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ God's power and God's wisdom.

The Foolish to Shame the Wise

25Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

26For consider your calling, brethren, that [there are] not many wise according to flesh, not many powerful, not many high-born. 27But God has chosen the foolish things of the world, that he may put to shame the wise; and God has chosen the weak things of the world, that he may put to shame the strong things; 28and the ignoble things of the world, and the despised, has God chosen, [and] things that are not, that he may annul the things that are; 29so that no flesh should boast before God. 30But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who has been made to us wisdom from God, and righteousness, and holiness, and redemption; 31that according as it is written, He that boasts, let him boast in [the] Lord.