[visually_augmented]

What is your opinion of Paul's teaching below:

1 Corninthians 1:17
For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect.

Paus seems to separate the preaching of the gospel from baptism. He appears to presume that baptism is not an essential for salvation?

[jkl1122]

The full context is in 1 Corinthians 1:11-17. The problem was that there were those who were placing their allegiance in the one who had baptized them, not who they were baptized into,which is Christ. Paul was making the point that he was glad he didn't baptize many of them, although he did baptize some of them. His stated reason was "Lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name"(v. 15).

In verse 17, he is stating his primary purpose was to preach the Gospel. He never says that baptism is not part of the Gospel, or that he should never baptize anyone. He is merely correcting a false view of some of the local Christians.