Daily Devotions
Why Paul Said He Was Not Sent to Baptize
Reading for May 25th: Nehemiah 4-6
Weekly reading for May 24-30: 1 Corinthians 1-6
For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel...
1 Corinthians 1:17
Those who say baptism is not necessary for salvation point to this verse. "See, Paul was not sent to baptize. Baptism must not be essential to salvation." However, this view fails to recognize the reason Paul says this and it ignores the context which shows the significance Paul placed on baptism.
The reason Paul said this was because he was concerned with those who boasted in men (4:6). Some might say that they were superior over others because Paul was the one who baptized them. Paul argues that the baptizer is of no consequence. He asked, "Were you baptized in the name of Paul?" (1:13) It made no difference. His role was to simply preach the gospel. It didn't matter if he baptized or someone else baptized after he taught them the gospel. Salvation was not in Paul's name. It is in Jesus' name. That's the point he's making here.
But consider the weight Paul gives to baptism in the context here. In verse 13 he asks two rhetorical questions: "Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?" Those two questions are related and connected. They both have to do with their salvation. The reason why they were saved was because Jesus was crucified for them and they were baptized in his name.
Father, keep us from pride in men. Help us to put our faith in Christ and in him alone.
