Hmmm. something DIFFERENT appears to be happening here. Baptism is NOT part of the gospel Paul is preaching. Water baptism, that is. As it was in Acts 8 and Acts 10, and Acts 1, and Matt. Mark, Luke and John.
Acts is a transitional Book. From Law to Grace. From a Kingdom of Believers to a Body of Believers. From Peter and the 11 to Paul. From water baptism to baptism BY the Holy Spirit INTO the Body of Christ.
I’ll deal with the question of Holy Spirit baptism at a later time. For now, I Corinthians 1:17—
It is sometimes claimed that Paul rejected any role of baptism in salvation when he wrote to the Corinthians in I Corinthians 1:17. He says in this passage:
“For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with eloquent wisdom,lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.”
I should be pointed out that Paul is not saying that he had not been authorized to baptize, or that baptism had no place in his ministry. Paul was an apostle of Jesus Christ. When Christ gave the “Great Commission” to the original twelve apostles, he commanded them to baptize (Matthew 28:19-20). Paul himself did personally baptize some people:
“...I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius...I did baptize also the household of Stephanus...” (I Corinthians 1:14,16)
One needs to realize that I Corinthians 1:17 is an idiomatic phrase. The words “not” and “but” are used in other places in a similar way. For example, in John 12:44 we read,
“And Jesus cried out and said, `He who believes in me, believes not in me but in him who sent me.’”
Jesus is not saying that those who do believe in him do not believe in him. He is simply emphasizing that those who believe in him are not believing in him only, but also (or even especially) in God the Father.
In a similar case, in John 6:27, Jesus says,
“Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life...”
Jesus is not trying to tell the people that they should give up their jobs and no longer work for their food. In II Thessalonians 3:10 we are told just the opposite. Jesus is simply trying to impress upon the people that they should work not only for physical food, but also (or even especially) for spiritual food.
In I Corinthians 1:17, Paul was trying to tell the Corinthians that his primary purpose as an apostle was not to be the one who conducted the physical act of baptism. His primary purpose was to preach the gospel. His efforts would be successful regardless of whether he, or others, did the actual baptizing. He was sent not only to baptize, but also (or even especially) to preach the gospel.
Finally, I Corinthians 1:17 should be viewed in light of the context. Starting with verse ten, we read,
“I appeal to you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree and that there be no dissensions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment. For it has been reported to me by Chloe’s people that there is quarreling among you, my brethren. What I mean is that each one of you says, `I belong to Paul,’ or `I belong to Apollos,’ or `I belong to Cephas,’ or `I belong to Christ.’ Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? I am thankful that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius; lest any one should say that you were baptized in my name. (I did baptize also the household of Stephanus. Beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized any one else.)” (I Corinthians 1:10-16)
There was division in the church at Corinth. People divided themselves into groups, at least partly, it seems, on the basis of who taught and baptized them. It is in this context that he says that he was glad that he had baptized only a few, and that he was not sent to baptize. Paul did not say that he was glad that only a few had been baptized, but that he was glad that he had personally done the baptizing in only a few instances.
Are you one of those who do not believe the gospels apply directly to you?
**”I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius..and I baptized also the household of Stephanas besides I know not whither I baptized any other. For Christ sent me NOT TO BAPTIZE, BUT TO PREACH THE GOSPEL...” 1 Cor. 1:14,16,17. Hmmm. something DIFFERENT appears to be happening here.**
So Paul openly admits to baptizing souls in Corinth, but then says that God sent him not to baptize. Nothing is different from what happened in Acts chaps 2,8,10,and 19. He was admonishing some souls that were boasting of the name of the great preachers that had baptized them instead of the name of who was crucified for them. He also baptized at least a dozen in Ephesus. He later wrote an epistle to the saints (already born again) at Ephesus. That what all of the epistles are; letters to those souls in already established churches, instructing them on how to serve God.
**Acts is a transitional Book.**
Acts is the historical record of the beginning of the church, what it taught, and places it spread to. Jesus Christ commanded “that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in HIS NAME among all nations, BEGINNING AT JERUSALEM.” (Luke 24:47) This command is initially enacted in Acts 2, with Peter’s sermon culminating with verses 38 and 39.