INTRODUCTORY NOTE

IN the eighteenth chapter of "The Acts of the Apostles" an account is given of the founding by Paul of the Church of Corinth. At that time Corinth was a great seaport, with a cosmopolitan population and an apparently well-deserved reputation for immorality. Not long after Paul's departure, it appears that some members of the Church fell back into the evil ways of the place, and their brethren wrote to Paul for advice. Paul's reply, now lost, seems to have been misunderstood; and their answer, along with oral reports which had reached the apostle, called forth the first of the two extant epistles. This was written at Ephesus, probably in 54 A. D., though some scholars date it three or four years later.

Our second epistle was sent from Macedonia, after Paul had been forced to flee from Ephesus, a few months after the date of the first. Like the first, it deals with scandals and divisions in the Corinthian Church, but rejoices over some matters on which its founder could offer congratulations. The more painful part of the letter, chapters X to XIII, is supposed by some to be part of an epistle coming between the first and the second.

The two letters give a very vivid picture of the perils through which the infant church struggled in the midst of a vicious pagan society, before its fundamental principles were firmly grasped, and while opportunities abounded to be led astray by rival teachers. Paul addresses himself to the unpleasant task of discipline with straightforwardness and courage, yet with much tenderness; and in holding up to his converts the gospel as he conceived it, he rises to a pitch of sublime eloquence.

499

THE FIRST EPISTLE OF PAUL TO THE

CORINTHIANS

[1]

P

I

AUL, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ throug the will of God, and Sosthenes our' brother, [2] un the church of God which is at Corinth, ev them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be sain with all that call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ every place, their Lord and ours: [3] Grace to you ar peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. [4] I thank my God always concerning you, for the gra of God which was given you in Christ Jesus; [5] that everything ye were enriched in him, in all utterance a all knowledge; [6] even as the testimony of Christ was co firmed in you: [7] so that ye come behind in no gift; wai ing for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ; [8] wh shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye be unreprov able in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. [9] God is fait ful, through whom ye were called into the fellowship of h Son Jesus Christ our Lord.

[10] Now I beseech you, brethren, through the name our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thin and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye perfected together in the same mind and in the same jud ment. [11] For it hath been signified unto me concernin you, my brethren, by them that are of the household Chloe, that there are contentions among you. [12] No this I mean, that each one of you saith, I am of Pau and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. [1 Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were

1 Gr. the brother. 2 Some ancient authorities omit my.
Gr. wo
Gr. schisms.
Or, Christ is divided! Was Paul crucified for yo

501

502

I. CORINTHIANS

baptized into the name of Paul? [14] I thank God that I baptized none of you, save Crispus and Gaius; [15] lest any man should say that ye were baptized into my name. [16] And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any other. [17] For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach' the gospel: not in wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made void.

[18] For the word of the cross is to them that perish' foolishness; but unto us who are saved it is the power of God. [19] For it is written,

I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,

And the discernment of the discerning will I bring to naught.

[20] Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world?" hath not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? [21] For seeing that in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom knew not God, it was God's good pleasure through the foolishness of the preaching" to save them that believe. [22] Seeing that Jews ask for signs, and Greeks seek after wisdom: [23] but we preach Christ" crucified, unto Jews a stumbling-block, and unto Gentiles foolishness; [24] but unto them” that are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. [25] Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

[26] For behold" your calling, brethren, that not many wise after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: [27] but God chose the foolish things of the world, that he might put to shame them that are wise; and God chose the weak things of the world, that he might put to shame the things that are strong; [28] and the base things of the world, and the things that are despised, did God choose, yea and the things that are not, that he might bring to nought the things that are: [29] that no flesh should glory before God. [30] But of