The big picture
1 Corinthians 1 opens in verse 1 with “Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our…”, reaches its middle movement near verse 16 with “And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized…”, and closes in verse 31 with “That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.” Repeated or prominent terms include Christ, Jesus, wisdom, Lord, world. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
1 Corinthians · King James Version · 311 Corinthians 1:1-8
1–8: Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God…
1 Corinthians 1:1–8 opens with “Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our…” and reaches “Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on 1 Corinthians 1 develops its own movement around Christ, Jesus, wisdom, Lord, world, with particular weight carried by Christ, Jesus, Lord.
Context that brings the passage to life
“Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother,” Naming Christ keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.” Naming Christ and Father keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
1 Corinthians 1:1-8
King James Version1Paul, 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.
1 Corinthians 1:9-16
9–16: God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son…
1 Corinthians 1:9–16 opens with “God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.” and reaches “And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on 1 Corinthians 1 develops its own movement around Christ, Jesus, wisdom, Lord, world, with particular weight carried by baptized, Christ, name.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 1 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.” Naming Christ keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.
1 Corinthians 1:9-16
King James Version9God 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.
1 Corinthians 1:17-24
17–24: For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with…
1 Corinthians 1:17–24 opens with “For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the…” and reaches “But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on 1 Corinthians 1 develops its own movement around Christ, Jesus, wisdom, Lord, world, with particular weight carried by wisdom, Christ, foolishness.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 1 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.
1 Corinthians 1:17-24
King James Version17For 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.
1 Corinthians 1:25-31
25–31: Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of…
1 Corinthians 1:25–31 opens with “Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.” and reaches “That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on 1 Corinthians 1 develops its own movement around Christ, Jesus, wisdom, Lord, world, with particular weight carried by chosen, world, confound.
Context that brings the passage to life
“Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.
“For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.
1 Corinthians 1:25-31
King James Version25Because 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.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
1 Corinthians 1:1 begins with “Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother,”
Where the chapter turns
1 Corinthians 1:13 forms a natural hinge: “Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?”
The final note
1 Corinthians 1:31 leaves the reader with “That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.”
A word trail through the chapter
The words Christ, Jesus, wisdom, Lord, world, baptized help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
Who receives the image and the blessing?
Both male and female in verses 27-28. Human worth precedes achievement.
What limits human dominion?
The world belongs to its Creator and is already declared good. Compare the charge to tend and keep in 2:15.
KJV words made clear
- unto
- to
- hath
- has
- lest
- so that something does not happen
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.