Present Suffering and Future Glory

¹⁸ I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.^(A)

⁷ Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift^(A) as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed.^{(B) 8} He will also keep you firm to the end, so that you will be blameless^(C) on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.^{(D) 9} God is faithful,^(E) who has called you^(F) into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.^(G)

A Church Divided Over Leaders

¹⁰ I appeal to you, brothers and sisters,^[a](H) in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you,^(I) but that you be perfectly united^(J) in mind and thought. ¹¹ My brothers and sisters, some from Chloe’s household^(K) have informed me that there are quarrels among you. ¹² What I mean is this: One of you says, “I follow Paul”;^(L) another, “I follow Apollos”;^(M) another, “I follow Cephas^[b]”;^(N) still another, “I follow Christ.”

¹³ Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized in the name of Paul?^{(O) 14} I thank God that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus^(P) and Gaius,^{(Q) 15} so no one can say that you were baptized in my name. ¹⁶ (Yes, I also baptized the household^(R) of Stephanas;^(S) beyond that, I don’t remember if I baptized anyone else.) ¹⁷ For Christ did not send me to baptize,^(T) but to preach the gospel—not with wisdom^(U) and eloquence, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.

Christ Crucified Is God’s Power and Wisdom

¹⁸ For the message of the cross is foolishness^(V) to those who are perishing,^(W) but to us who are being saved^(X) it is the power of God.^{(Y) 19} For it is written:

²⁰ Where is the wise person?^(AA) Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age?^(AB) Has not God made foolish^(AC) the wisdom of the world? ²¹ For since in the wisdom of God the world^(AD) through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save^(AE) those who believe.^{(AF) 22} Jews demand signs^(AG) and Greeks look for wisdom, ²³ but we preach Christ crucified:^(AH) a stumbling block^(AI) to Jews and foolishness^(AJ) to Gentiles, ²⁴ but to those whom God has called,^(AK) both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God^(AL) and the wisdom of God.^{(AM) 25} For the foolishness^(AN) of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness^(AO) of God is stronger than human strength.

²⁶ Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called.^(AP) Not many of you were wise^(AQ) by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. ²⁷ But God chose^(AR) the foolish^(AS) things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. ²⁸ God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not^(AT)—to nullify the things that are, ²⁹ so that no one may boast before him.^{(AU) 30} It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus,^(AV) who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness,^(AW) holiness^(AX) and redemption.^{(AY) 31} Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.”^[d](AZ)

⁴ When Christ, who is your^[a] life,^(A) appears,^(B) then you also will appear with him in glory.^(C)

⁷ These have come so that the proven genuineness^(A) of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire^(B)—may result in praise, glory and honor^(C) when Jesus Christ is revealed.^(D)

Be Holy

¹³ Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober,^(A) set your hope^(B) on the grace to be brought to you^(C) when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming.^(D)

² Dear friends,^(A) now we are children of God,^(B) and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears,^[a](C) we shall be like him,^(D) for we shall see him as he is.^(E)