1 Corinthians 1 explained: Rival Camps and a Foolish Cross

Greeting (vv. 1-3)

Paul opens in the usual letter style of the time, naming himself, a co-worker called Sosthenes, and his readers. He calls the church in Corinth, a busy Greek port city, God's holy people, even though he is about to criticize them sharply.

Thanks for their gifts (vv. 4-9)

Before any criticism, Paul thanks God for their abilities in speaking and knowledge, the very things the Corinthians prized most. He reminds them that their future rests on God's faithfulness, not their own, as they wait for Jesus to return.

Taking sides over leaders (vv. 10-17)

People from the household of a woman named Chloe report that the church is splitting into fan groups around Paul, Apollos (a gifted speaker who taught there after him) and Cephas (Peter's Aramaic name), while others claim Christ himself as their leader. Paul refuses to be anyone's party leader, and scholars are unsure whether that last group was a real faction or a way of sounding superior.

The foolishness of the cross (vv. 18-25)

Crucifixion was Rome's most shameful form of execution, so a crucified savior sounded absurd to Greek thinkers and, to many Jewish hearers, the opposite of the powerful sign they expected from God. Quoting Isaiah, Paul argues that God works through this apparent weakness and shows up human cleverness.

Not many were impressive (vv. 26-31)

Paul reminds them that most of them were not educated, powerful or from important families when they joined. God chose them on purpose, he says, so no one can boast except about what God has done, echoing a line from Jeremiah.

Key verse: 1 Corinthians 1:18

Something to think about

Can you think of a time when something that looked weak or foolish turned out to matter more than what looked strong or clever?