1 Corinthians 1:1-3
Paul, called as an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother, to the church of God which is in Corinth, to those who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, saints by calling, with all who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

† Paul begins with his apostolic authority, called by God, not men.
† The Corinthians are reminded they are sanctified, set apart for God, though deeply troubled as a church.
† Clement of Rome (1 Clement 1) later reminded this same church of their calling to holiness, echoing Paul's words.

1 Corinthians 1:4-6
I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given you in Christ Jesus, that in everything you were enriched in Him, in all speech and all knowledge, just as the testimony concerning Christ was confirmed in you.

† Despite their flaws, Paul acknowledges God's grace in them.
† They were enriched in spiritual gifts, but needed humility and unity.

1 Corinthians 1:7-9
So that you are not lacking in any gift, as you eagerly await the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will also confirm you to the end, blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, through whom you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

† Their gifts confirmed the truth of the gospel among them.
† The "day of our Lord Jesus Christ" pointed to His AD 70 vindication, when faith was confirmed and covenant transition complete.

1 Corinthians 1:10
Now I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be made complete in the same mind and in the same judgment.

† Unity is the foundation of the church. Division weakens the testimony of Christ.
† Paul calls for harmony, not strife.

1 Corinthians 1:11-12
For I have been informed concerning you, my brothers and sisters, by Chloe’s people, that there are quarrels among you. Now I mean this, that each one of you is saying, "I am with Paul," and "I am with Apollos," and "I am with Cephas," and "I am with Christ."

† The Corinthians were dividing around personalities.
† This sectarian spirit undermined Christ's unity.
† Clement of Rome (1 Clement 47) rebuked the same kind of quarrels in the Corinthian church a generation later.

1 Corinthians 1:13-15
Has Christ been divided? Paul was not crucified for you, was he? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? I am thankful that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, so that no one would say you were baptized in my name!

† Paul exposes the absurdity of division.
† Baptism is in Christ, not in men.

1 Corinthians 1:17
For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with cleverness of speech, so that the cross of Christ would not be made of no effect.

† Paul's mission was proclamation, not human eloquence.
† The power is in the cross, not in rhetorical skill.
† Philo (On the Confusion of Tongues 146) critiqued empty eloquence, aligning with Paul's rejection of human wisdom.

1 Corinthians 1:18
For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

† The cross divides humanity: foolishness to unbelievers, power to believers.

1 Corinthians 1:19-20
For it is written: "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the understanding of those who have understanding, I will confound." Where is the wise person? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has God not made foolish the wisdom of the world?

† Human wisdom collapses before God's wisdom in the cross.
† Isaiah 29:14 is fulfilled in Christ, as God overturned the proud.

1 Corinthians 1:21-23
For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. For indeed Jews ask for signs and Greeks search for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block, and to Gentiles foolishness.

† The cross offended both Jews and Greeks.
† Yet it is the wisdom and power of God.
† Josephus (Antiquities 18.3.3) records Jewish expectation of signs, showing Paul's insight.

1 Corinthians 1:24-25
But to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than mankind, and the weakness of God is stronger than mankind.

† God's "foolishness" and "weakness" surpass human wisdom and strength.

1 Corinthians 1:26-29
For consider your calling, brothers and sisters, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, and the lowly things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are, so that no human may boast before God.

† God's choice of the humble exposes the emptiness of pride.
† The Corinthian believers, many poor and lowly, were living proof.

1 Corinthians 1:30-31
But it is due to Him that you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, so that, just as it is written: "Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord."

† Christ is our wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption.
† Boasting belongs only to the Lord, fulfilling Jeremiah 9:24.

How it applies to us today
† 1 Corinthians 1 reminds us that division and pride have no place in the body of Christ.
† The cross is the center of God's wisdom and power, still offensive to worldly minds.
† God's church is built not on eloquence, wealth, or status, but on Christ alone.
† Our only boast is in the Lord who unites us and redeems us.

† This is the fulfilled perspective we proclaim at Fulfilled Prophecies †

Source Index
† Clement of Rome, 1 Clement 1, 47 - warnings to the Corinthians about unity and strife
† Philo, On the Confusion of Tongues 146 - critique of empty eloquence
† Isaiah 29:14 - wisdom of the wise destroyed
† Josephus, Antiquities 18.3.3 - Jewish desire for signs
† Jeremiah 9:24 - boasting only in the Lord