Christ Did Not Send Me to Baptize?

[SDG]

Originally Posted by Alter Ego

But Miss B, Paul deemphasized the importance of his role in baptism. He stated that Christ did not call him to baptize, but to preach the Gospel.

The best we can assume is that he had handlers who performed that Christian rite. And that is an assumption, right?

I don't find the emphasis on performing a baptism correctly in any of Paul writings ... nor a clothesline message ... nor a salvific tithing message ...

One would think that if he was writing to new Christians ... saved from paganism .... he'd at least be more emphatic on the ESSENTIALS that some have placed on the Apostolic message.

The argument that some OPs use that he was already addressing the saved sounds tinny when one thinks about the wealth of counsel and advice Paul painstakenly took to instruct the churches under his care.

Contrast that today w/ the messages found at Apostolic conferences, rallies and campmeetings directed at the saved and one has to wonder if Paul was indeed APOSTOLIC ENOUGH. He didn't beat their drum ... that's fo sho!!!

[MissBrattified]

Originally Posted by Daniel Alicea

Vice-versa ... indeed ... Do we know Apollos never went to Ephesus?

Why are you asking? To try to conclude that perhaps Apollos had been there previously and avoided preaching about baptism?

I think if he had, Paul would have said "Apollos" in reference to previous teachings instead of just "John" ('s baptism).

[COOPER]

Originally Posted by Alter Ego

Look at what he said again.


"I am thankful that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius,

For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel"

Yep, it's OK to preach the Gospel and let some one else do the Baptizing.

[Jehoram]

Originally Posted by MissBrattified

I don't know about Paul...I know Peter preached quite a powerful message in Acts 2, but I suppose that is overused, and therefore inconsequential to this conversation.

Not at all.

I totally believe Acts 2:38 is the proper response to the Gospel but I am baffled by Paul's words here. And by the sparse record of his involvement in baptisms in general. Especially considering the thousands upon thousands of souls he preached to.

[MissBrattified]

Originally Posted by Alter Ego

But Miss B, Paul deemphasized the importance of his role in baptism. He stated that Christ did not call him to baptize, but to preach the Gospel.

The best we can assume is that he had handlers who performed that Christian rite. And that is an assumption, right?

Maybe there's a 6th fold of the ministry--baptizers.

I don't know why he made the statement, but I don't think he was deemphasizing the importance of baptism. I think he was emphasizing the importance of remembering that our allegiance is to Christ, and not to the person that led us to Christ.

[Jehoram]

Originally Posted by COOPER

Yep, it's OK to preach the Gospel and let some one else do the Baptizing.

But Coop, there were times when there was no one around but Paul and his unsaved listeners.

That doesn't wash.

(pardon the pun)

[COOPER]

Originally Posted by Alter Ego

But Coop, there were times when there was no one around but Paul and his unsaved listeners.

That doesn't wash.

(pardon the pun)

You've got me there....I do not know. Maybe he had helpers?

Acts 13:13
Now when Paul and his company loosed from Paphos, they came to Perga in Pamphylia: and John departing from them returned to Jerusalem.
Acts 13:12-14 (in Context) Acts 13 (Whole Chapter)

[Jehoram]

Originally Posted by MissBrattified

Maybe there's a 6th fold of the ministry--baptizers.

I don't know why he made the statement, but I don't think he was deemphasizing the importance of baptism. I think he was emphasizing the importance of remembering that our allegiance is to Christ, and not to the person that led us to Christ.

Paul before Agrippa. Notice what he does not mention.


Acts 26
1Then Agrippa said to Paul, "You have permission to speak for yourself." So Paul motioned with his hand and began his defense: 2"King Agrippa, I consider myself fortunate to stand before you today as I make my defense against all the accusations of the Jews, 3and especially so because you are well acquainted with all the Jewish customs and controversies. Therefore, I beg you to listen to me patiently.

4"The Jews all know the way I have lived ever since I was a child, from the beginning of my life in my own country, and also in Jerusalem. 5They have known me for a long time and can testify, if they are willing, that according to the strictest sect of our religion, I lived as a Pharisee. 6And now it is because of my hope in what God has promised our fathers that I am on trial today. 7This is the promise our twelve tribes are hoping to see fulfilled as they earnestly serve God day and night. O king, it is because of this hope that the Jews are accusing me. 8Why should any of you consider it incredible that God raises the dead?

9"I too was convinced that I ought to do all that was possible to oppose the name of Jesus of Nazareth. 10And that is just what I did in Jerusalem. On the authority of the chief priests I put many of the saints in prison, and when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them. 11Many a time I went from one synagogue to another to have them punished, and I tried to force them to blaspheme. In my obsession against them, I even went to foreign cities to persecute them.

12"On one of these journeys I was going to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests. 13About noon, O king, as I was on the road, I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, blazing around me and my companions. 14We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice saying to me in Aramaic,[a] 'Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.'

15"Then I asked, 'Who are you, Lord?'

" 'I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,' the Lord replied. 16'Now get up and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen of me and what I will show you. 17I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them 18to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.'

19"So then, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the vision from heaven. 20First to those in Damascus, then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and to the Gentiles also, I preached that they should repent and turn to God and prove their repentance by their deeds. 21That is why the Jews seized me in the temple courts and tried to kill me. 22But I have had God's help to this very day, and so I stand here and testify to small and great alike. I am saying nothing beyond what the prophets and Moses said would happen— 23that the Christ[b] would suffer and, as the first to rise from the dead, would proclaim light to his own people and to the Gentiles."

24At this point Festus interrupted Paul's defense. "You are out of your mind, Paul!" he shouted. "Your great learning is driving you insane."

25"I am not insane, most excellent Festus," Paul replied. "What I am saying is true and reasonable. 26The king is familiar with these things, and I can speak freely to him. I am convinced that none of this has escaped his notice, because it was not done in a corner. 27King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you do."

28Then Agrippa said to Paul, "Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?"

29Paul replied, "Short time or long—I pray God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains."

30The king rose, and with him the governor and Bernice and those sitting with them. 31They left the room, and while talking with one another, they said, "This man is not doing anything that deserves death or imprisonment."

32Agrippa said to Festus, "This man could have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar."

[Jehoram]

Paul implies repentance and turning to God.

Does he mention baptism?

[MissBrattified]

Originally Posted by Alter Ego

Not at all.

I totally believe Acts 2:38 is the proper response to the Gospel, but I am baffled by Paul's words here. Also by the sparse record of his involvement in baptisms in general. Especially considering the thousands upon thousands of souls he preached to.

I think what you just said is the answer, actually--Paul was separating the response to the Gospel from the Gospel itself. Maybe he thought it was his job to preach, and everyone else's job to respond? I really don't know, but I can't conclude that the found baptism unimportant, based on other scriptures.

Especially Romans:

Romans 6:4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

Does this scripture mean that if we aren't baptized, that we can't "walk in newness of life?" It seems to imply that, at least, the way I'm reading it. How can I be a "new woman" until I have buried the old one? I know baptism is symbolic, and the work is Christ's, but does He do the work before we are obedient? Or does He change us through obedience?

Hebrews 5:9 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;

I Peter 4:17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?