1. I, Paul, am writing this letter. I have been chosen to be an apostle of Christ Jesus just as God planned. Our brother Sosthenes joins me in writing.
2. We are sending this letter to you, the members of God's church in Corinth. You have been made holy because you belong to Christ Jesus. God has chosen you to be his holy people. He has done the same for all those everywhere who pray to our Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus is their Lord and ours.
3. May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace.
4. I always thank God for you. I thank him because of the grace he has given to you who belong to Christ Jesus.
5. You have been blessed in every way because of him. All your teaching of the truth is better. Your understanding of it is more complete.
6. Our witness about Christ has been proved to be true in you.
7. There is no gift of the Holy Spirit that you don't have. You are full of hope as you wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to come again.
8. God will keep you strong to the very end. Then you will be without blame on the day our Lord Jesus Christ returns.
9. God is faithful. He has chosen you to share life with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.