¹⁸ For I consider that the sufferings of this present time ^(A)are not worthy to be compared with the ^(B)glory that is to be revealed to us.

⁷ so that you are not lacking in any gift, ^(A)awaiting eagerly the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, ^8 (B)who will also confirm you to the end, blameless in ^(C)the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. ^9 (D)God is faithful, through whom you were ^(E)called into ^(F)fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

¹⁰ Now ^(G)I exhort you, ^(H)brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all ^[a]agree and that there be no ^[b](I)divisions among you, but that you be ^[c]made complete in ^(J)the same mind and in the same judgment. ¹¹ For I have been informed concerning you, my brethren, by Chloe’s people, that there are quarrels among you. ¹² Now I mean this, that ^(K)each one of you is saying, “I am of Paul,” and “I of ^(L)Apollos,” and “I of ^(M)Cephas,” and “I of Christ.” ^13 [d]Has Christ been divided? Paul was not crucified for you, was he? Or were you ^(N)baptized ^[e]in the name of Paul? ^14 [f]I thank God that I ^(O)baptized none of you except ^(P)Crispus and ^(Q)Gaius, ¹⁵ so that no one would say you were baptized ^[g]in my name. ¹⁶ Now I did baptize also the ^(R)household of Stephanas; beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized any other. ^17 (S)For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, ^(T)not in ^[h]cleverness of speech, so that the cross of Christ would not be made void.

The Wisdom of God

¹⁸ For the word of the cross is ^(U)foolishness to ^(V)those who ^[i]are perishing, but to us who ^[j]are being saved it is ^(W)the power of God. ¹⁹ For it is written,

^20 (Y)Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of ^(Z)this age? Has not God ^(AA)made foolish the wisdom of ^(AB)the world? ²¹ For since in the wisdom of God ^(AC)the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, ^(AD)God was well-pleased through the ^(AE)foolishness of the ^[k]message preached to ^(AF)save those who believe. ²² For indeed ^(AG)Jews ask for ^[l]signs and Greeks search for wisdom; ²³ but we preach ^[m](AH)Christ crucified, ^(AI)to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles ^(AJ)foolishness, ²⁴ but to those who are ^(AK)the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ ^(AL)the power of God and ^(AM)the wisdom of God. ²⁵ Because the ^(AN)foolishness of God is wiser than men, and ^(AO)the weakness of God is stronger than men.

²⁶ For ^[n]consider your ^(AP)calling, brethren, that there were ^(AQ)not many wise according to ^[o]the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; ²⁷ but ^(AR)God has chosen the foolish things of ^(AS)the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of ^(AT)the world to shame the things which are strong, ²⁸ and the base things of ^(AU)the world and the despised God has chosen, ^(AV)the things that are not, so that He may ^(AW)nullify the things that are, ²⁹ so that ^(AX)no ^[p]man may boast before God. ³⁰ But ^[q]by His doing you are in ^(AY)Christ Jesus, who became to us ^(AZ)wisdom from God, ^[r]and ^(BA)righteousness and ^(BB)sanctification, and ^(BC)redemption, ³¹ so that, just as it is written, “^(BD)Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord.”

⁴ When Christ, ^(A)who is our life, is revealed, ^(B)then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.

⁷ so that the ^[a](A)proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which ^[b]is perishable, ^(B)even though tested by fire, ^(C)may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at ^(D)the revelation of Jesus Christ;

¹³ Therefore, ^[a](A)prepare your minds for action, ^[b](B)keep sober in spirit, fix your ^(C)hope completely on the ^(D)grace ^[c]to be brought to you at ^(E)the revelation of Jesus Christ.

^2 (A)Beloved, now we are ^(B)children of God, and ^(C)it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He ^(D)appears, we will be ^(E)like Him, because we will ^(F)see Him just as He is.