1 Corinthians 1:30 kjv

But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:

1 Corinthians 1:30 nkjv

But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God?and righteousness and sanctification and redemption?

1 Corinthians 1:30 niv

It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God?that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.

1 Corinthians 1:30 esv

And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption,

1 Corinthians 1:30 nlt

God has united you with Christ Jesus. For our benefit God made him to be wisdom itself. Christ made us right with God; he made us pure and holy, and he freed us from sin.

1 Corinthians 1 verses

1 Corinthians 1 30 Meaning

God is the ultimate source of a believer's new identity and spiritual existence "in Christ Jesus." Through Christ, God provides all that is necessary for salvation: perfect divine wisdom, a righteous standing before God, ongoing spiritual transformation leading to holiness, and ultimate deliverance from the power and penalty of sin. These four aspects encompass the entirety of salvation and underscore that all spiritual blessings flow solely from God through Christ, removing any basis for human boasting.

1 Corinthians 1 30 Context

First Corinthians 1 addresses divisions and factions within the Corinthian church, primarily rooted in human wisdom, rhetorical skill, and reliance on prominent leaders rather than on the transformative power of the Gospel. Paul challenges their emphasis on eloquent speech and philosophical debates, which they considered superior. He argues that God's method of salvation—through the seemingly foolish message of a crucified Christ—deliberately bypasses human pride and self-sufficiency. This verse (1:30) serves as a theological cornerstone, culminating the argument that salvation is entirely God's work, providing every spiritual benefit in Christ, thereby leaving no room for human boasting, which is then explicitly stated in the subsequent verse. The Corinthians, living in a city famed for intellectual and moral relativism, needed to understand that true wisdom and status come only from God through Christ.

1 Corinthians 1 30 Word analysis

• "But of him" (ἐκ αὐτοῦ - ek autou): This phrase signifies origin or source. It emphatically states that a believer's standing "in Christ Jesus" does not come from human will, wisdom, or effort, but exclusively from God. It points to God's sovereign initiative in salvation, a theme consistent throughout Pauline theology.

• "you are" (ἐστὲ - este): A direct declaration of being or existence. It asserts the fundamental reality of a believer's identity and new creation; it is a present and enduring truth, indicating not just what they have but what they are through divine action.

• "in Christ Jesus" (ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ - en Christō Iēsou): This is a pivotal Pauline theological phrase denoting union, sphere of life, and spiritual identification. It is the spiritual realm in which believers exist, a direct contrast to existence "in Adam" (Rom 5:12-14) or "in the flesh" (Rom 7:5). It highlights an intimate, saving relationship with Christ, making all of Christ's benefits accessible to the believer. This phrase often signifies the secure and blessed status of a believer.

• "who became" (ὃς ἐγενήθη - hos egenēthē): This past tense verb indicates a definitive, completed action in history—Christ's accomplishment on the cross. It speaks to the active, personal role of Jesus Christ in effecting salvation for humanity. The form implies "came into being for us" or "proved himself to be."

• "for us" (ἡμῖν - hēmin): A dative of advantage, signifying that all these benefits Christ became are for the benefit of believers. It emphasizes the selfless and redemptive purpose of Christ's work on the cross.

• "wisdom from God" (σοφία ἀπὸ Θεοῦ - sophia apo Theou): In a culture valuing human wisdom, Paul declares that Christ himself is the ultimate embodiment of divine wisdom. This is God's salvific plan, particularly the message of the cross, which appears "foolish" to the world but is profoundly wise and effective to God (1 Cor 1:18, 25). Christ perfectly reveals God's mind and way of salvation, replacing human intellectual striving with divine revelation.

• "and righteousness" (δικαιοσύνη - dikaiosynē): Refers to the divine attribute and status of being just, but here specifically to the imputed righteousness Christ provides. This is the legal standing before God by which a sinner is declared righteous, not based on personal merit or works, but through faith in Christ's perfect obedience and atoning sacrifice (Rom 3:21-26, 2 Cor 5:21). It covers the forensic aspect of salvation.

• "and sanctification" (ἁγιασμός - hagiasmos): The process of being made holy and set apart for God's purposes. It is both a positional truth (believers are positionally holy in Christ) and a progressive work of the Holy Spirit (ongoing transformation into Christ's likeness) (Heb 10:10, Php 1:6). It relates to purity and dedication to God.

• "and redemption" (ἀπολύτρωσις - apolytrosis): This signifies deliverance achieved through the payment of a ransom. It speaks to liberation from the bondage of sin, death, and the curse of the law (Gal 3:13). Christ paid the ultimate price, His life's blood, to free believers, granting them spiritual liberty and assuring future full release (e.g., from the corruption of the body, Rom 8:23).

• Words-group by words-group analysis:

  • "But of him you are in Christ Jesus": This entire clause asserts the divine initiation and grounding of salvation. It counters any human pride or self-originated religious pursuit by emphasizing God's complete ownership and provision of a believer's spiritual existence within Christ. This union is not earned, but bestowed.
  • "who became for us wisdom from God, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption": This sequence of four key terms represents a comprehensive summary of Christ's saving work and its manifold benefits to believers. It systematically addresses the human predicament: spiritual blindness (solved by Christ as wisdom), guilt before God (solved by Christ as righteousness), unholiness (solved by Christ as sanctification), and spiritual slavery/consequences (solved by Christ as redemption). These are not separate, disjointed acts but interconnected aspects of the unified salvation accomplished in and through Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 1 30 Bonus section

The fourfold description of Christ's work – wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption – can be seen as answering different dimensions of the human condition and God's solution.

• Wisdom addresses human folly and spiritual blindness, revealing God's ultimate plan of salvation through the seemingly paradoxical cross.
• Righteousness addresses human guilt and sin before a holy God, providing a declared right standing.
• Sanctification addresses human depravity and spiritual uncleanness, providing a continuous process of becoming more like Christ.
• Redemption addresses human slavery to sin and death, providing liberation and future complete deliverance.This sequence implicitly emphasizes that salvation is a holistic work of God in Christ, touching every facet of a believer's spiritual being from their initial call to their final glorification. This also directly combats the prevalent Corinthian attitudes that prized intellectual achievement, moral looseness, and status-seeking, redirecting their focus entirely to what God provides in Christ.

1 Corinthians 1 30 Commentary

1 Corinthians 1:30 serves as the theological linchpin in Paul's argument against human boasting and divisiveness in the Corinthian church. It unequivocally declares God's sole proprietorship over salvation. By stating that believers' very existence in Christ originates from God, Paul strips away any human claim to credit. The subsequent enumeration of Christ as "wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption" unveils the full scope of God's provision through His Son. Christ isn't merely a wise teacher; He is divine wisdom itself, embodying God's saving plan. He isn't just an example of righteousness; He is the righteousness that justifies us before a holy God. He isn't merely an encourager to be holy; He is the very means and source of our ongoing transformation into holiness. And He is not just one who offers liberation; He is the liberator who pays the ransom, securing complete freedom from sin's power and consequences. These are not disparate blessings we obtain but aspects of the unified gift of Christ Himself. The verse asserts that Christ fully encompasses and perfectly fulfills every need of humanity for salvation, thus redirecting all glory back to the Father who provides such a Christ.