Paul, called to be an apostle of ‘Isa al-Masih through the will of Allah, and our brother Sosthenes, 2to the congregation of Allah which is at Corinth; those who are sanctified in al-Masih ‘Isa, called to be saints, with all who call on the name of our Lord ‘Isa al-Masih in every place, both theirs and ours: 3As-Salam-u Alaikum Wa Rahmatullah[1] from Allah our Father and the Lord ‘Isa al-Masih.
4I always thank my God concerning you, for the grace of Allah which was given you in al-Masih ‘Isa; 5that in everything you were enriched in him, in all speech and all knowledge; 6even as the testimony of al-Masih was confirmed in you: 7so that you come behind in no gift; waiting for the revelation of our Lord ‘Isa al-Masih; 8who will also confirm you until the end, blameless in the day of our Lord ‘Isa al-Masih. 9Allah is faithful, through whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, ‘Isa al-Masih, our Lord. 10Now I beg you, brothers,[2]through the name of our Lord, ‘Isa al-Masih, that you all speak the same thing and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfected together in the same mind and in the same judgment. 11For it has been reported to me concerning you, my brothers, by those who are from Chloe’s household, that there are contentions among you. 12Now I mean this, that each one of you says, “I follow Paul,“ “I follow Apollos,“ “I follow Cephas,“ and, “I follow al-Masih.“ 13Is al-Masih divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized into the name of Paul? 14I thank Allah that I baptized none of you, except Crispus and Gaius, 15so that no one should say that I had baptized you into my own name. 16(I also baptized the household of Stephanas; besides them, I do not know whether I baptized any other.) 17For al-Masih sent me not to baptize, but to preach the Injil–not in wisdom of words, so that the cross of al-Masihwouldn’t be made void. 18For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are dying, but to us who are saved it is the power of Allah. 19For it is written,
“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, I will bring to nothing the intelligence of the intelligent.“[3]
20Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the lawyer of this world? Hasn’t Allah made foolish the wisdom of this world? 21For seeing that in the wisdom of Allah, the world through its wisdom did not know Allah, it was Allah’s good pleasure through the foolishness of the message of the Injil to save those who believe. 22For Jews ask for signs, Greeks seek after wisdom, 23but we preach al-Masih crucified; a stumbling block to Jews, and foolishness to Greeks, 24but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, al-Masih is the power of Allah and the wisdom of Allah. 25Because the foolishness of Allah is wiser than men, and the weakness of Allah is stronger than men. 26For you see your calling, brothers, that not many are wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, and not many noble; 27but Allah chose the foolish things of the world that he might put to shame those who are wise. Allah chose the weak things of the world, that he might put to shame the things that are strong; 28and Allah chose the lowly things of the world, and the things that are despised, and the things that are not, that he might bring to nothing the things that are: 29that no flesh should boast before Allah. 30But of him, you are in al-Masih ‘Isa, who was made to us wisdom from Allah, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption: 31that, according as it is written, “Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord.“[4]
[1] 1:3 Often translated, “grace and peace to you.” This is functionally equivalent to the greeting given here.
[2] 1:10 The word for “brothers“ here and where context allows may also be correctly translated “brothers and sisters“ or “siblings.“
[3] 1:19 Quoting the Taurat, Shaya 29:14.
[4] 1:31 Quoting the Taurat, Armiya 9:24.