A Brief Exposition of 1 Corinthians Chapter 1

As we delve into 1 Corinthians 1, we find the Apostle Paul addressing the church in Corinth, a body of believers marked by diversity and giftedness, yet struggling with division and immaturity. Paul begins by expressing his gratitude to God for the Corinthians, acknowledging the grace of God that has been bestowed upon them, and the fact that they have been "enriched in every way" (1:5) in Christ. He reminds them that they are not lacking in any spiritual gift, and that they will be kept firm to the end, blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ (1:7-8), just as God is faithful.

However, Paul's tone soon shifts as he confronts the reality of the divisions within the church, where some were saying "I follow Paul," others "I follow Apollos," and still others "I follow Cephas" (1:12). Paul laments this fragmentation, insisting that Christ is not divided, and that the message of the cross is not about human leaders, but about the crucified and risen Lord. He reminds them that the gospel is not a matter of human wisdom, but of the power of God, for it is written, "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart" (1:19). The cross, which is foolishness to the world, is in fact the wisdom and power of God, for "God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise" (1:27).

As Paul reflects on his own ministry, he notes that he did not come to the Corinthians with eloquence or superior wisdom, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, so that their faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God's power (1:24, 2:4-5). He concludes the chapter by emphasizing that the Corinthians are not their own, but have been bought with a price, and therefore should glorify God in their bodies (1:26-31, 6:19-20). Throughout this chapter, Paul's desire is to point the Corinthians away from themselves and their petty divisions, and towards the all-sufficient, crucified, and risen Christ, in whom they have been united, and in whom they will find true wisdom, power, and unity.