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Commentary on the First Letter of Saint Paul to the Corinthians, Chapter 1:

This letter was written by Paul and Sosthenes to the community of believers in Corinth, which is located in modern day Greece, near Athens (vs. 1). Paul addresses them as the “Church of God,” a Church that includes all those “sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints” who “call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,” even beyond the city of Corinth (vs. 2). After offering this thanksgiving to the recipients of the letter and God, Paul reveals the reason for this particular letter. People associated with the woman, Chloe (known to the community) have reported division and argument within the community (vs. 10-11). Instead of unity in Jesus, believers are instead dividing themselves and claiming allegiance to particular religious figures, such as Paul, Apollos, and Cephas (Peter) (vs. 12). Paul begins this long letter of response to this situation with the broad teaching to focus on the message of God, not the messengers that God chooses, whether as recipients (vs. 14-25) or as believers who are called to make God known in the world (vs. 26-31).

First Letter of Saint Paul to the Corinthians, Chapter 1:

Salutation

1 Paul, called by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Je­sus, and our brother Sosthenes, 2 To the Church of God which is at Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours:
3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Je­sus Christ.
4 I give thanks to God always for you because of the grace of God which was given you in Christ Jesus, 5 that in every way you were enriched in him with all speech and all knowledge— 6 even as the testimony to Christ was confirmed among you—7 so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ; 8 who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Dissension in the Church

10 I appeal to you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree and that there be no dissen­sions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment. 11 For it has been reported to me by Chloe’s people that there is quarrel­ing among you, my brethren. 12 What I mean is that each one of you says, “I belong to Paul,” or “I belong to Apollos,” or “I be­ long to Cephas,” or “I belong to Christ.” 13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? 14 I am thankful that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius; 15 lest any one should say that you were baptized in my name. 16 (I did baptize also the household of Stephanas. Beyond that, I do not know whether I bap­tized any one else.) 17 For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.

Christ the Power and Wisdom of God

18 For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the cleverness of the clever I will thwart.”
20 Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the de­bater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since, in the wis­dom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. 22 For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, 24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
26 For consider your call, brethren; not many of you were wise according to the flesh, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth; 27 but God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise, God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong, 28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, 29 so that no flesh might boast in the presence of God. 30 He is the source of your life in Christ Jesus, whom God made our wisdom, our righteousness and sanctification and redemp­tion; 31 therefore, as it is written, “Let him who boasts, boast of the Lord.”

*Daily Lectio Divina Question:

Upon hearing Paul’s exhortation that there be unity among us, “one mind and purpose,” what is the first person or situation that comes to mind regarding this word of encouragement to you?  And how does it rest with your soul?  

Biblical Commentary provided by the Catholic Biblical School of Michigan, an adult faith formation apostolate. Catholic Biblical School of Michigan (cbsmich.org/join).

Revised Standard Version; Second Catholic Edition. (San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 2006).
Permission to use the RSV-2CE given for Bishop's Year of the Bible by Ignatius Press. Many thanks to Ignatius for this. If you're looking for a good Catholic edition of the Bible, look no further