Quote:
Originally Posted by Apprehended
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. |
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.