Why did Paul say this? like this?
 

If baptism is one of the steps of the 3 step plan of salvation why did Christ not send Paul to do it?

1 Corinthians 1:14* ¶ I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius;
15* Lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name.
16* And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any other.
17* ¶ For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.

Why would Paul be go glad that he baptized so few?

Why didn't he make it as important as many make it today?

Am I wrong, (shouldn't have asked that on AFF), but doesn't it seem strange how Paul talked so nonchalantly about baptism if it is in fact a part of a 3 step plan?

Been Thinkin

Re: Why did Paul say this? like this?
 

Because so many had attitudes and views that Paul didn't appreciate. He was using a figure of speech known as hyperbole. He wasn't saying that baptism was unimportant.

By taking something as important as baptism and saying, "I thank God..." he is emphasizing just how erroneous the attitudes of many of the Corithians had become.

I don't think he's being "nonchalant" here. He seems pretty ticked off.

Re: Why did Paul say this? like this?
 

Why did Christ not send him to baptize?

BT

Re: Why did Paul say this? like this?
 

I think he was saying that baptism alone, without faith or repentance, is useless.

Re: Why did Paul say this? like this?
 

Adam Clarke says:

Preparing these adult heathens for baptism by the continual preaching of the word was of much greater consequence than baptizing them when thus prepared to receive and profit by it.

:heeheehee

Re: Why did Paul say this? like this?
 

Some were saying that they were of Paul and others were saying that they were of Apollos. It seems that there was a hefty dose of "preacher religion" back in those days too. Paul was simply trying to disavow himself from being an object of adoration in that sense. I am proud of the fact that the venerable George L. Glass Sr. baptized me when I was still quite young after having received the Holy Ghost under a tent during a revival preached by W.E. Gamblin in 1947. Though I am happy for my heritage, many boast in their spiritual pedigree. Paul did not think that was important and could be deceptive.

Re: Why did Paul say this? like this?
 

And that is a very good point that you made and one that is very accurate. Paul was emphasising his displeasure with the people who were boasting in almost an atmosphere that they were more concerned with who they were attached to by baptism than who they should have been following by faith( Jesus) Paul's quote is definitely appreciated by pastors.

Re: Why did Paul say this? like this?
 

But your explanations are missing my point. If baptism was so important, ( and I believe it is important) as to be a heaven or hell issue, I think it would have been better for Paul not to have said the things he said. I wasn't sent to baptize sounds like it wasn't as important to Paul as present day Pentecostals have made it. He couldn't even remember how many he had baptized. Present day preachers keep a long list of how many got baptized in their revival. The churches post at the end of the year how many were baptized that year. That's good. But Paul didn't seem to place that much importance on it. Why? And yes, I heard some of your explanations, but they seemed rather flimsy to me! Just my opinion!

Someone said we need to keep "the main thing, the main thing", and it would seem to be that Paul was putting much more importance on the cross, than a 3 step plan of salvation, that he was not sent to do part of. To me the "main thing" was not a 3 step plan but the preaching of the cross!

What say you? And thanks for responding.

Been Thinkin

Re: Why did Paul say this? like this?
 

Not too much different today is it? Spiritual pride comes in many shapes and forms...all of which are quite deceptive.

One man says, I don't go to movies and watch television. Another man one ups him and says, "I don't do that either...besides that, I don't have long hair and the wife does." The first guy one ups him saying, "I don't wear short sleeves, wear a mustache." Not to be out done, the other one says, "My holiness is so great that I don't even drink coffee since I become convicted of it." Back and forth go the one-up-man-ship until the two guys fall out with each other calling each other a pharisee and full of spiritual pride, pledging not to be like the other guy.

:D

Spiritual pride is a funny thing but sooooo deceiving.

Re: Why did Paul say this? like this?
 

Right on,brother!

Re: Why did Paul say this? like this?
 

Do you think he might have been following the example of John the Baptist, who was doing the baptizing while Jesus was ministering?

Paul seems to have entrusted that act to those that were connected to the churches.

Re: Why did Paul say this? like this?
 

Of course.

An visiting minister will not usually do the baptizing. He's going to leave it up to the Pastors or whoever it is that has charge of the local assembly. That would be proper order. Paul understood that.

Re: Why did Paul say this? like this?
 

:thumbsup

And makes the thought complete with what you posted:


:thumbsup

Re: Why did Paul say this? like this?
 

I'm sorry. I thought you were asking for an explanation of why Paul said it. As far as making any comment on whether baptism is important for salvation, My personal stand is. Why would anyone not want to. With me it isn't an issue reflected to salvation and never should have ever been discussed or debated as such by any man of God any where or at any time through out history, I mean that even if it were the apostle Paul debating it. Our Lord said teach it, preach it, and if people believe then baptism them in his authority of the New Testament which is written with his name across it.
Endless issue. If someone came to me and said; Do I need to be baptised in Jesus name to be saved. I would reply, isn't that what He told you to do if you believed in Him? Why take away from the scriptures here and there. If you start cutting out pages of scriptures then in time there won't be a bible at all. I'm sorry not trying to be smart,I'm not a UPC but I believe in baptism in Jesus name because it's his covenant that I am joined to with his testomony binding it together.Everything I do I do in His name, and everything I own has His name on it.

Re: Why did Paul say this? like this?
 

George L. Glass Sr. and W.E. Gamblin?
weren't they both one-steppers?

Re: Why did Paul say this? like this?
 

The main thing is salvation.
Water baptism is important but is secondary to salvation.
The main thing was getting people saved. Then, upon their profession of faith, they could be water baptized.
The church at Corinth was splitting up into cliques and placing too much emphasis on different preachers. Some were proud that they had been baptized by Paul himself and considered that a badge of honor and considered themselves higher level Christians than those who had been baptized by someone else.

Re: Why did Paul say this? like this?
 

Most certainly not W.E. Gamblin. Some have tried to imply that Glass was since he initially came out of the PCI. I've heard him deny the one-step plan and strongly preach the WHOLE counsel of God. In fact, not too many months ago I found an old cassette tape of him preaching. I dug in a closet and found an old tape machine and listened to it. It was a blessing. He strongly preached Acts 2:38 entitled, "God Gives Every Man and Equal Chance." Powerful message that only a master preacher could preach.

Re: Why did Paul say this? like this?
 

I don't think he was saying baptism was unimportant. I think Paul was saying that it wasn't important that HE baptize them. He was saying that he left it up to other people.

Do you really think that he was saying, "I'm so glad I didn't baptize any of you, except for Crispus and Gaius, because baptism is totally unimportant--or at least less important than preaching the Gospel."?

Here's a different question: If Christ didn't send Paul to baptize people, then why did he baptize Crispus, Gaius and the household of Stephanas anyway? Maybe he had to, because he was the only one available?

Re: Why did Paul say this? like this?
 

Excellent point.

"The word "and" is almost always a conjunctive. Paul certainly knew that Jesus had said, "He that believeth

AND...

is baptized shall be saved.

But, he that believeth not...no sense in being baptized is it? They will be damned.

Re: Why did Paul say this? like this?
 

Context is everything
1Co 1:11 For it has been declared to me concerning you, my brothers, by those of Chloe, that there are contentions among you.
1Co 1:12 But I say this, that every one of you says, I am of Paul, and I of Apollos, and I of Cephas, and I of Christ.
1Co 1:13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you, or were you baptized in the name of Paul?
1Co 1:14 I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius,
1Co 1:15 lest any should say that I had baptized in my own name.
1Co 1:16 And I also baptized the household of Stephanas. Besides these, I do not know if I baptized any other.
1Co 1:17 For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel; not in wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect.

It was related to the contention in the Corinthian church. Some of them were arrogantly claiming to be disciples of Paul. Baptism was seen as an act of discipleship. John the baptist baptized his followers and made them "disciples of John"...

That is also why we baptize in Jesus name. We are making them disciples of Christ by proxy...baptizing them in His place. Paul did not want any part of that foolishness,which is why he was glad he had not baptized any of them

Re: Why did Paul say this? like this?
 

Sorry I've been away from the computer. Thanks for the responses. But again no one has responded to my question.... Why did Paul say ...... 1Co 1:17 [B] For Christ did not send me to baptize, .... I find it interesting that he would make this kind of statement concerning something so important.

Just wonderin

Been Thinkin (Too much)

Re: Why did Paul say this? like this?
 

While I do not recall the name of the pastor of the church at Corinth, but whoever he was was given that charge. It would have been proper order for him to do the baptizing. Paul said that he was not sent there for the purpose of baptizing anyone. It seems to me that Paul simply recognized and acknowledged proper order. It doesn't seem too mysterious to me, especially since baptism is a work of the cross in a believer's life. Surely, Paul recognized that too since...his preaching was the cross.

Paul is not saying that Christ did not commission him or sent him to baptize. We find that Paul was definitely sent by Christ to baptize from the account given in Acts 19, passing through the upper coast he came to Ephesus. Baptism was so important to Paul that he rebaptized those Baptist in the name of Jesus. The commission to baptize was given to Christ's Apostles in Matt 28 and elsewhere. Certainly Paul knew his commission in seeing that believers were baptized. Obviously, he did not fail the commission at Corinth.

Re: Why did Paul say this? like this?
 

I think it was because some of the believers in Corinth were glorying in who had baptized them, causing division and pride in the body.

Re: Why did Paul say this? like this?
 

I just thought I'd drop this one here...

We have to keep in mind that the NT church didn't reflect what we call church today. Essentially the "church in Corinth" wasn't a single body meeting in a building. But rather it was the entire body of Christ dwelling in Corinth. These believers were obviously meeting in various homes throughout the region. We do see what might be an elder (pastor) mentioned....

Corinthians 1:11 (English Standard Version)
11For it has been reported to me by Chloe’s people that there is quarreling among you, my brothers.

Apparently some believers who were meeting in the house of one named Chloe were writing Paul concerning some of the issues this network of believers were facing. Chloe may very well have been the elder or "pastor" of one of these house churches.

Paul's letter wasn't read over a pulpit to a single church as we know it. Most likely it was copied and/or circulated throughout the churches meeting in various places in the city of Corinth.

Re: Why did Paul say this? like this?
 

George Glass Sr. was not a one stepper. that has been discussed and rediscussed.

Re: Why did Paul say this? like this?
 

I remember that he was discussed and some posted anecdotal evidence that he was a one-stepper and others posted anecdotal evidence that he was not, so since he did not answer for himself, I guess we'll never know--and, whether he was or not is actually none of our business.

Re: Why did Paul say this? like this?
 

Great post. I agree entirely. Thank you.

Re: Why did Paul say this? like this?
 

He did answer for himself...as I said above. I have it on an old cassette recording.

Re: Why did Paul say this? like this?
 

My post answers your question

As for "why did Paul say 'Christ did not send me to baptize'". The answer is to me rather clear. He is a preacher. His job or calling was to preach the gospel. What would be the point in calling someone to baptize? What is he gonna do? Go kidnap people and force them to be baptized? Of course not. His calling, just like the other Apostles, was to preach the gospel. Baptizer is not one of the fivefold ministries.

Pastors aren't called to baptize folks. They are called to teach the flock, but that does not preclude them from baptizing.

The emphasis is on the gospel, without which nobody would be baptized anyways, let alone trusting on Jesus