1 Corinthians 1:1-17

I will posting all scripture through the ESV lens but if you have a different version that you think represents the scripture best, read in that and post any words that stand out in your version in the comments.
This week we will start from the beginning of 1 Corinthians.
Greeting

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 that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon 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.
Thanksgiving

4 I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus, 5 that in every way you were enriched in him in all speech and all knowledge— 6 even as the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you— 7 so that you are not lacking in any 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.
Divisions in the Church

10 I appeal to you, brothers,[a] by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions 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 brothers. 12 What I mean is that each one of you says, “I follow Paul,” or “I follow Apollos,” or “I follow Cephas,” or “I follow Christ.” 13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? 14 I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15 so that no one may 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 anyone else.) 17 For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.

There were a few areas that really came out for me in this passage first being verse 3 Grace to you and peace from God. I really think this stands out to me right now because it's one of things I am having trouble with in my daily life, giving grace. How freely I take it but man do I hold onto it with great strength.
The end of verse 10, oh my how I wish to be united and in the same mind and the in same judgment. 
Lastly verse 17, For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power. This verse I had a hard time understanding. I was drawn to this verse far more than any other verse in this passage but I didn't completely understand the context so I asked for a little help from our friend Art. Here are his words:

The whole flow of the beginning of 1 Corinthians is contrasting "Wisdom" in the ancient world compared to the "Wisdom of God" which looks pretty foolish to the ancient world and our world too, just for different reasons. There were philosophers who traveled around during that time teaching and proclaiming "wisdom". Their names are "Sophists" which comes from the Greek root word for wisdom. They were common in Paul's world and were paid as they spoke from town to town. Paul is trying to contrast what he is proclaiming and what they are proclaiming. He didn't come to them with their wisdom, but with the simple message of Jesus Christ who was killed on a cross. In that culture being humiliated and dying in that way would be considered idiotic not wise in any way. So Paul is saying, I'm not coming to you proclaiming the same things, nor just in my own wit and skills at philosophy. I came to you proclaiming this good news, which sounds ridiculous to some, but to others who have experienced God through an encounter with the living Christ, it is our life story. Encountering God gives us power to really live, even though to some it seems the very opposite of wise. 

So reread chapters 1 & 2 looking for the contrast of what Paul is saying against the traveling Sophists who proclaimed "wisdom" and Paul's proclaiming of the "wisdom of God in Jesus Christ".

I am looking forward to hearing some of your thoughts on this passage and what is happening in your lives. Next week we will be reading 1 Corinthians 1: 18-31. 
Talk to You Soon, 
Abbie