Christ Did Not Send Me to Baptize?

[Jehoram]

Originally Posted by Daniel Alicea

I don't think he neglected baptism. He baptized the jailer the same night he believed in the Gospel of Jesus Christ ...

but he did not teach baptismal regeneration nor did the other apostles.

Apparently he did.

The house of Stephanas and two others.

That's slim pickin's considering the thousands he preached to.

Would Paul be accepted in Apostolic ranks today?

What's up with this?

[SDG]

Originally Posted by Alter Ego

Apparently he did.

The house of Stephanas and two others.

That's slim pickin's considering the thousands he preached to.

Would Paul be accepted in Apostolic ranks today?

What's up with this?

He chose to do those ... we don't know why ...

However, it's clear he taught and practiced water baptism ...

but as stated before and by Cooper ... He most likely did not want believers to "idolize" him ... or claim they were disciples of Paul ... he believed in th ministry of the entire body ... the priesthood of all saints.

[MissBrattified]

Originally Posted by Daniel Alicea

He chose to do those ... we don't know why ...

However, it's clear he taught and practiced water baptism ...

but as stated before and by Cooper ... He most likely did not want believers to "idolize" him ... or claim they were disciples of Paul ... he believed in th ministry of the entire body ... the priesthood of all saints.

I agree. I think this is a logical explanation of the passage. He sounds like he's being facetious, trying to make a point, and I certainly can't draw the conclusion that the point he was making is that baptism is unimportant, considering the context of other scriptures.

Paul did teach on baptism:

Colossians 2:12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.

Romans 6:3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?

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.

Romans 6:5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:

Acts 19:3-6 And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism. Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.

[Jehoram]

Originally Posted by MissBrattified

I agree. I think this is a logical explanation of the passage. He sounds like he's being facetious, trying to make a point, and I certainly can't draw the conclusion that the point he was making is that baptism is unimportant, considering the context of other scriptures.

Paul did teach on baptism:

Colossians 2:12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.

Romans 6:3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?

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.

Romans 6:5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:

Acts 19:3-6 And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism. Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.

Very good response.

Question though.

We always say that the Pauline Epistles were written to believers. Holy Ghost-filled believers. So can we use any of the references you just mentioned seeing as how they were obviously written to the Church?

Where are the examples of Paul teaching repentance, baptism and HG infilling to the lost?

[SDG]

Originally Posted by Alter Ego

Very good response.

Question though.

We always say that the Pauline Epistles were written to believers. Holy Ghost-filled believers. So can we use any of the references you just mentioned seeing as how they were obviously written to the Church?

Where are the examples of Paul teaching repentance, baptism and HG infilling to the lost?

There a preaching by Peter also recorded in Acts where it seems Peter forgot the Acts 2:38 message.

[MissBrattified]

Originally Posted by Alter Ego

Very good response.

Question though.

We always say that the Pauline Epistles were written to believers. Holy Ghost-filled believers. So can we use any of the references you just mentioned seeing as how they were obviously written to the Church?

Where are the examples of Paul teaching repentance, baptism and HG infilling to the lost?

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.

[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

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?

[MissBrattified]

Originally Posted by Alter Ego

Apparently he did.

The house of Stephanas and two others.

That's slim pickin's considering the thousands he preached to.

Would Paul be accepted in Apostolic ranks today?

What's up with this?

This is an inaccurate conclusion. He said that he had only baptized "Crispus and Gaius; ...And...the household of Stephanas:", but in verse 14 he said "none of YOU", meaning of the Corinthian church. Obviously he baptized more than that, or else Acts 19 is an inaccurate account. He was in Ephesus when he baptized these disciples, and Apollos was in Corinth. (Acts 19:1)

[SDG]

Originally Posted by MissBrattified

This is an inaccurate conclusion. He said that he had only baptized "Crispus and Gaius; ...And...the household of Stephanas:", but in verse 14 he said "none of YOU", meaning of the Corinthian church. Obviously he baptized more than that, or else Acts 19 is an inaccurate account. He was in Ephesus when he baptized these disciples, and Apollos was in Corinth. (Acts 19:1)

??? Are we assuming Apollos never went to Ephesus ... and surely Paul had been to both cities.