Collection for the Saints

16 Now concerning athe collection for the saints, as I have given orders to the churches of Galatia, so you must do also: 2 bOn the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no collections when I come. 3 And when I come, cwhomever you approve by your letters I will send to bear your gift to Jerusalem. 4 dBut if it is fitting that I go also, they will go with me.

Personal Plans

5 Now I will come to you ewhen I pass through Macedonia (for I am passing through Macedonia). 6 And it may be that I will remain, or even spend the winter with you, that you may fsend me on my journey, wherever I go. 7 For I do not wish to see you now on the way; but I hope to stay a while with you, gif the Lord permits.

8 But I will tarry in Ephesus until hPentecost. 9 For ia great and effective door has opened to me, and jthere are many adversaries.

10 And kif Timothy comes, see that he may be with you without fear; for lhe does the work of the Lord, as I also do. 11 mTherefore let no one despise him. But send him on his journey nin peace, that he may come to me; for I am waiting for him with the brethren.

12 Now concerning our brother oApollos, I strongly urged him to come to you with the brethren, but he was quite unwilling to come at this time; however, he will come when he has a convenient time.

Final Exhortations

13 pWatch, qstand fast in the faith, be brave, rbe strong. 14 sLet all that you do be done with love.

15 I urge you, brethren—you know tthe household of Stephanas, that it is uthe firstfruits of Achaia, and that they have devoted themselves to vthe ministry of the saints—16 wthat you also submit to such, and to everyone who works and xlabors with us.

17 I am glad about the coming of Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus, yfor what was lacking on your part they supplied. 18 zFor they refreshed my spirit and yours. Therefore aacknowledge such men.

Greetings and a Solemn Farewell

19 The churches of Asia greet you. Aquila and Priscilla greet you heartily in the Lord, bwith the church that is in their house. 20 All the brethren greet you. cGreet one another with a holy kiss.

21 dThe salutation with my own hand—Paul’s.

22 If anyone edoes not love the Lord Jesus Christ, flet him be 1accursed. gO 2Lord, come!

23 hThe grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. 24 My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen.

Greeting

1 Paul, acalled to be an apostle of Jesus Christ bthrough the will of God, and cSosthenes our brother,

2 To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who dare 1sanctified in Christ Jesus, ecalled to be saints, with all who in every place call on the name of Jesus Christ four Lord, gboth theirs and ours:

3 hGrace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Spiritual Gifts at Corinth

4 iI thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given to you by Christ Jesus, 5 that you were enriched in everything by Him jin all 2utterance and all knowledge, 6 even as kthe testimony of Christ was confirmed 3in you, 7 so that you come short in no gift, eagerly lwaiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, 8 mwho will also confirm you to the end, nthat you may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 oGod is faithful, by whom you were called into pthe fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Sectarianism is Sin

10 Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, qthat you all 4speak the same thing, and that there be no 5divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. 11 For it has been declared to me concerning you, my brethren, by those of Chloe’s household, that there are 6contentions among you. 12 Now I say this, that reach of you says, “I am of Paul,” or “I am of sApollos,” or “I am of tCephas,” or “I am of Christ.” 13 uIs Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?

14 I thank God that I baptized vnone of you except wCrispus and xGaius, 15 lest anyone should say that I had baptized in my own name. 16 Yes, I also baptized the household of yStephanas. Besides, I do not know whether I baptized any other. 17 For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, znot with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect.

Christ the Power and Wisdom of God

18 For the 7message of the cross is afoolishness to bthose who are perishing, but to us cwho are being saved it is the dpower of God. 19 For it is written:

e“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,

And bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.”

20 fWhere is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the 8disputer of this age? gHas not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? 21 For since, in the hwisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. 22 For iJews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; 23 but we preach Christ crucified, jto the Jews a 9stumbling block and to the 1Greeks kfoolishness, 24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ lthe power of God and mthe wisdom of God. 25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

Glory Only in the Lord

26 For 2you see your calling, brethren, nthat not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many 3noble, are called. 27 But oGod has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; 28 and the 4base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things …

Collection for the Saints

16 Now concerning athe collection for the saints, as I have given orders to the churches of Galatia, so you must do also: 2 bOn the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no collections when I come. 3 And when I come, cwhomever you approve by your letters I will send to bear your gift to Jerusalem. 4 dBut if it is fitting that I go also, they will go with me.

Personal Plans

5 Now I will come to you ewhen I pass through Macedonia (for I am passing through Macedonia). 6 And it may be that I will remain, or even spend the winter with you, that you may fsend me on my journey, wherever I go. 7 For I do not wish to see you now on the way; but I hope to stay a while with you, gif the Lord permits.

8 But I will tarry in Ephesus until hPentecost. 9 For ia great and effective door has opened to me, and jthere are many adversaries.

10 And kif Timothy comes, see that he may be with you without fear; for lhe does the work of the Lord, as I also do. 11 mTherefore let no one despise him. But send him on his journey nin peace, that he may come to me; for I am waiting for him with the brethren.

12 Now concerning our brother oApollos, I strongly urged him to come to you with the brethren, but he was quite unwilling to come at this time; however, he will come when he has a convenient time.

Final Exhortations

13 pWatch, qstand fast in the faith, be brave, rbe strong. 14 sLet all that you do be done with love.

15 I urge you, brethren—you know tthe household of Stephanas, that it is uthe firstfruits of Achaia, and that they have devoted themselves to vthe ministry of the saints—16 wthat you also submit to such, and to everyone who works and xlabors with us.

17 I am glad about the coming of Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus, yfor what was lacking on your part they supplied. 18 zFor they refreshed my spirit and yours. Therefore aacknowledge such men.

Greetings and a Solemn Farewell

19 The churches of Asia greet you. Aquila and Priscilla greet you heartily in the Lord, bwith the church that is in their house. 20 All the brethren greet you. cGreet one another with a holy kiss.

21 dThe salutation with my own hand—Paul’s.

22 If anyone edoes not love the Lord Jesus Christ, flet him be 1accursed. gO 2Lord, come!

23 hThe grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. 24 My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen.