Paul opens by greeting the church in Corinth and reminding them that they are called by God to belong to Jesus Christ, enriched with spiritual gifts as they wait for His return. He thanks God for His grace toward them and assures them that God is faithful and will keep them strong.
Paul then addresses a serious problem: divisions in the church. Believers are lining up behind different leaders and arguing over who they follow. Paul urges them to be united, reminding them that Christ is not divided and that it was Christ – not any human leader – who died for them.
He explains that God did not send him primarily to impress people with clever speech, but to share the message of the cross. That message may seem foolish to those who rely on human wisdom, but to those who are being saved it is the very power of God.
Paul emphasises that God deliberately overturns human pride. He often chooses what the world considers weak, foolish, or insignificant to show His power and wisdom. Because of this, no one can boast before God. Everything believers have – wisdom, righteousness, holiness, and redemption – comes from Christ alone, so all boasting should be in the Lord.
May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you all of his blessings, and great peace of heart and mind.
I can never stop thanking God for all the wonderful gifts he has given you, now that you are Christ’s: he has enriched your whole life. He has helped you speak out for him and has given you a full understanding of the truth; what I told you Christ could do for you has happened! Now you have every grace and blessing; every spiritual gift and power for doing his will are yours during this time of waiting for the return of our Lord Jesus Christ. And he guarantees right up to the end that you will be counted free from all sin and guilt on that day when he returns. God will surely do this for you, for he always does just what he says, and he is the one who invited you into this wonderful friendship with his Son, even Christ our Lord. (1 Corinthians 1, TLB.)